Presidency, PDP leaders to review new Adamawa zoning deal 2 days ago • Guber aspirants seek support THE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will consult with the Presidency will this week to consider the new zoning deal reached by key stakeholders in the Adamawa State chapter and come up with a final position. In an arrangement aimed at resolving the impasse arising from the multiplicity of aspirants within the PDP for the October 11, 2014 governorship bye-election in Adamawa state, some PDP chieftains struck an understanding to allow the Adamawa Senatorial District produce the candidate. A total of 14 persons collected the PDP nomination form to contest the party’s primary election which holds September 6, 2014. It was learnt within the Abuja national secretariat of the PDP yesterday that the zoning arrangement sought by the Adamawa leaders would be the subject matter of a meeting between the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and President Goodluck Jonathan during the week. However, it was also found out that the PDP leadership is insisting on allowing its members in Adamawa to decide the fate of the aspirants even through any formula within the party’s constitution provided that all persons would be fairly treated and carried along in the nomination game. A PDP national secretariat source said: “Oh yes, we are aware of moves to achieve a consensus on this race for the Adamawa governorship. You know that the PDP national leadership have always strived to ensure a rancour-free and very fair nomination exercise in any State where election of a governor is due. That is why we believe that solid support should be given to any arrangement that would help achieve this objective because in as much as we want to allow for a free and fair nomination process, we must also pay proper attention to the fact that the less the crisis in the nomination exercise, the better for the party” “So there is nothing wrong with it. I can confirm to you that meetings would be held at the highest level of the party to look at our best option including the suggested zoning deal which is even in line with the party’s constitution.” He added. The 14 PDP aspirants jostling for the Adamawa State number one seat include Acting Governor Umar Fintiri, Awwal Tukur, Ahmed Gulak, Idi Hong, Ahmed Modibbo, Mohammed Buba Marwa and Nuhu Ribadu. The zoning arrangement was pushed through after a marathon of meetings held in the capital, Yola, which was attended by some of the governorship aspirants and key party stakeholders and leaders drawn from the 21 local governments of the state. A highly placed source who was part of the meetings revealed through telephone interview that the stakeholders were unanimous in taking the decision which he said was to “placate the politically disadvantaged Central zone which is politically excluded despite its numerical strength”. Accordingly, the meeting was said to have resolved to forward its stance to the national headquarters of the PDP and through it the party leader, President Goodluck Jonathan. The source said the zoning consensus was reached in line with the spirit of the PDP constitution which encourages zoning as a way of revolving offices to accommodate all geopolitical groupings. According to him, as at the time of the Governor Murtala Nyako’s administration, the Central Zone was not occupying any of the top five positions in the state, and this reality did not change even with the impeachment of Nyako, as the acting governor is from the Northern zone. “The Northern Senatorial Zone stands out as the highest beneficiary in terms of occupying prestigious political offices, both elective and appointive, among the Zones. They produced three governors, Saleh Michika, Boni Haruna and Wilberforce Juta as well as two deputy governors; David Barau and James Ngilari. Three speakers of the House, Paul Wampana, Ahmed Gulak and Ahmadu Fintiri are all from the Northern zone” Presently, the acting governor of the state well as two serving ministers; Boni Haruna and Zainab Maina are all from the Northern zone. The Southern Senatorial Zone, he noted, has produced two governors and a Deputy Governor. They are Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Admiral Murtala Nyako and Chief Lynn Nathan. The source explained that various speakers at the meeting observed that at various times, capable and promising aspirants from the Central Zone were persuaded to shelve their ambitions for aspirants from another zone. “In considering the zoning of the position of the Governor to the Central Zone, it would not be out of place to zone the position of the Deputy Governor to the Southern Zone in particular to the Ganye Chiefdom that comprises of Toungo, Jada and Ganye,” the source added. And ahead of the forthcoming PDP governorship primary, the Campaign Organisation of Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo said it was seeking support of ordinary people of the state for its aspirant to emerge victorious. Speaking in Yola on Sunday, Director-General of the group, Hon. Fanuel Mosu, explained that as political events were unfolding rapidly in Adamawa, it was doing everything possible to have more voters on its side. Mosu said the group had begun engaging core stakeholders within its campaign network to achieve results in massive grassroots mobilisation . He stated that the group despite its past achievements was now looking at new strategies that would put Modibbo ahead of other aspirants in the election. Mosu said the leadership of the group now keeps a closer touch with the 211 coordinators appointed across all the local councils in Adamawa, as well as their counterpart delegate coordinators in the zones to oversee its activities. In addition, so far he pointed to how positive perception of Modibbo’s integrity and his previous party support in Adamawa have made him an easy sell for prospective voters. He added: “We reviewed our campaign structures from ward, council and zonal levels and necessary improvements have been observed, yet we are not willing to rest on our oars. Part of our advantage is that Dr. Modibbo is already a household name here in Adamawa. His record of achievements and party support is helping us, but we still need to do more. “All the twenty one local council coordinators and our delegate coordinators have been briefed about some of our new strategies and theyhave expressed their willingness to take the message to the grassroots. “Modibbo’s group believes more in the people and in putting them first; that is why we are focusing on how to get biggest support from them during and after the primaries.”
Posted on: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 07:44:54 +0000
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