PDP Govs reject Jonathan’s deal with Senators

•As party moves presidential, governorship and NASS primaries to December

Barely 48 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reached a pact on automatic return tickets for 40 Senators, some governors and leaders have protested to the party.

They vowed to resist the imposition by claiming that some Senators are unproductive and electoral liabilities.

They also alleged that the concession will alter zoning formula in some states.

Some governors, however, initiated rapprochement with their Senators immediately after the deal was sealed.

It was learnt that Governor Sullivan Chime had met with the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, for reconciliation having lost out in his attempts to nullify the ward congresses which favoured Ekweremadu’s group.

But the party may not reverse its decision on the Senators to allow “peace to reign” in the party.

According to findings by our correspondent, some governors and party leaders were shocked by the ‘unwritten agreement” by the Presidency, the party and the Senators.

It was learnt that there had been protests from some states like

Delta, Anambra, Benue, Oyo, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Abia, Cross River, Ondo, among others.

A reliable party source said: “Some governors were just unhappy by the decision of the party to retain 40 Senators. They have protested and queried why the party did not ask for their input.

“They also complained that some of the Senators given second term tickets were benchwarmers. For instance, in one of the Southern states, the party leaders claimed that a Senator from their state cannot even make a complete sentence not to talk of quality contributions.

“Yet in the name of peace, the same Senator will get a second term in the chamber. In another state, a Senator is standing trial for alleged corrupt enrichment while in office but he will now enjoy second tenure in the Upper Chamber.”

Another PDP source said some of the governors have vowed to encourage anti-party activities to prove a point that the presidency and the party were wrong.

The source added: “A governor was also said to have told a minister that he would rather encourage protest votes against the re-election of a Senator in his state than allowing the PDP to win the seat.

“From what the President and the PDP had done, there will be protest votes in Adamawa State against the returning Senators. I can tell you that APC will gain from this decision.

“The case in Delta State is challenging. Leaders are opposed to

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan  is imposing his successor but they are also denying him the Senatorial ticket.

“In Bayelsa State, there is a subsisting agreement that all members of the National Assembly will not come back. The pact with Senators will put Governor Henry Seriake Dickson in a serious dilemma.”

A member of the NWC, who spoke in confidence said: “We are aware that the automatic ticket policy for some Senators did not go down well with some PDP governors.

“This is a family problem; we will ensure a win-win situation for all. The party will work out a formula to appease all.

“Yet in spite of the situation, some governors have endorsed the return of their Senators.”

Meanwhile, Governor Sullivan Chime has met with the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for reconciliation.

Chime has lost the bid to snatch Enugu West Senatorial District ticket from Ekweremadu.

Although Chime has anointed a member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as his successor, the outcome of the Ward Congresses last Saturday also favoured Ekweremadu group.

A source in the presidency said: “Chime has met with Ekweremadu after failing to nullify the outcome of the ward congresses in Enugu. The two leaders met in Abuja after a long-drawn cold war for the soul of PDP in Enugu.

“The two leaders have started talking. The best compromise Chime can get now is to prevail on Ekweremadu to allow  him to produce his successor. That will not be a bad idea for PDP’s victory in Enugu.

“As it stands, the governor is wrestled to the ground in Enugu by a coalition of forces led by Ekweremadu.”