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Tag: consensus

  • Confusion over consensus in Kebbi

    Confusion over consensus in Kebbi

    Kebbi State All Progressive Congress(APC) has resolved to adopt one governorship aspirants from each of the three senatorial districts before electing one candidate, who will be its flag bearer in next year’s elections.

    The Chairman of the Consensus Committee, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, told reporters  in  Birnin-Kebbi that the party would finally present only one candidate for the election.

    He explained that 10 aspirants, who had indicated interest in the position, are expected to agree on one candidate from their senatorial zone.

    “This would enable the party to avoid distraction and pool resources together to other governorship candidates from other parties,”he said

    Argungu said that Kebbi North Senatorial District has adopted Alhaji Ahmad Sama, adding that the Kebbi South and Central are expected to present their candidates.

    “The All Progressive Congress(APC) would continue to explore avenues to ensure that the party emerge victorious at the governorship election through internal democracy, transparency,”he added.

     

  • Enugu 2015: Ripples over consensus candidacy

    The endorsement of House of Representatives member, Hon.Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for next year’s election  has raised some dust.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Maritime Matters is  Enugu North Senatorial District. The slot has been zone to the zone by stakeholders.

    Despite the endorsement, the PDP will still hold primaries for those interested in the race.

    Prior to Ugwuanyi’s endorsement,  14 aspirants were jostling for the number one position. Each of them saw himself as the potential successor to Governor Sullivan  Chime.

    In 1999 many  vied for the position. But, Dr Chimaraoke Nnamani, who emerged as the flag bearer,  governed the state  for eight years. Other contestants, after grumbling for some time, accepted their fate.

    Also, in 2007, Chief Okey Itanyi, Chief Okey Ezea, Chief Ugochukwu Agballa, Chief Anayo Onwuegbu and Dr Alex Obiechina were in the race.  However Chime was re-elected.

    When the PDP zoned the slot to  Nsukka Zone, many indigenes unfolded their ambitions. To avoid  a violent struggle for power, Enugu PDP decided to emulate its national leadership, which after deep reflection, decided to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan as the consensus presidential candidate.

    Chime has refused to anoint any aspirant as his successor. He told reporters that stakeholders will do the job. After series of brainstorming, the people decided that consensus would reduce acrimony and prevent post-primary crises. There was no dissenting voice when Ugwuanyi was nominated as the consensus candidate. However, shortly after the endorsement, aggrived aspirants cried foul, alleging that the endorsement was pre-determined. They accused the governor of imposing the aspirant on the party.

    In Enugu, Ugwuanyi is a household name. He has organised empowerment programmes for stakeholders. Many youths see him as their idol. He is not a controversial politician. But, many did not know that he would vie for the slot.

    The ovation that greeted his endorsement underscored his popularity and acceptability. But, what is striking is that party leaders from East and West districts have congratulated their counteroparts in the North District over his endorsement.

    A politician, Tom Amoke, described Ugwuanyi, as an unassuming, humble and grassroots actor held in esteem by constituents. He said: “Although he has risen to fame, he has not forgotten his rural background. As a legislator, he sees himself as a commoner. He is in touch with the grassroots.”

    When he was endorsed, he was not carried away by the euphoria. He reflected on the exercise that threw him up, thanking the stakeholders for the honour. But, he also called for unity and understanding, saying that next year’s election is a joint enterprise requiring the involvement of other aspirants.

    To assuage the feelings of co-contestants, he refused to gloat over his emergence. The legislator embarked on a soothing and conciliatory mission. He visited other aspirants, urging them to promote the larger, collective interest of the party.

    His reconciliatory moves seem to have paid off. It doused the tension between the “Abuja politicians” and “Enugu politicians.”  The camp of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu was said to have expressed satisfaction with Ugwuanyi’s endorsement. Since he has not been a controversial politician, it was easy for him to become a rallying point.

    According to party chieftains, the endorsement has doused the tension usually trigggered by preparations for primaries. Besides, it has affirmed the zoning principle. “There is now a rotational arrangement. This may shape the clamour for power shift when the tenure of the next governor expires,” said Amoke.

    A stakeholder, Emeka Attamah, said, the next assignment is to team up with the PDP, Chime and Ugwuanyi so that the PDP can retain the state.

    He added: “ They should accept Hon. Ugwuanyi’s olive branch and resolve to make his administration succeed when he becomes the governor, instead of distracting his attention by unnecessary bickering and other anti-party activities. The achievements of Governor Chime must be preserved and built upon by a competent successor.

    “The people of Enugu North Senatorial Zone are grateful to the governor for his insistence on equity, fairness and justice. He has recognised the tripodal composition of the state.”

  • Guber race: PDP in turmoil as consensus collapses in states

    Guber race: PDP in turmoil as consensus collapses in states

    • Guber aspirants’ number rises to 170
    • Wike, Maku, Wogu, Ishaku, Ortom face tough opponents

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in a fix following the failure of the consensus option proposed for many states.

    As at the last count, a check at the National Secretariat of the party showed that over 170 aspirants have collected the party’s governorship nomination form in at least 20 states.

    Out of the 36 states, there will be no governorship primaries in Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Anambra, and Kogi states.

    It could not be immediately ascertained if the earlier nomination forms obtained by 13 aspirants in Adamawa State would still subsist or not.

    But the governorship nomination crisis is worse in the South-South, South-East and South-West with high number of aspirants.

    Out of the seven ministers that resigned last week, five of them are facing serious battles ahead.

    The affected former ministers who are aspirants are Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health); Dairus Ishaku (Minister of State for Niger Delta), Emeka Wogu (Labour and Productivity), Nyesom Wike (Minister of State for Education); Musiliu Obanikoro (Minister of State for Defence), Labaran Maku (Information), Samuel Ortom (Trade and Industry).

    While Wike is facing 16 opponents in Rivers State, Wogu has to contend with seven in Abia; Maku faces opposition from Sen. Solomon Ewuga and Deputy Governor Dameshi Luka; and Ortom will slug it out with five others in Benue.

    In Taraba, the battle line is drawn between Ishaku and the Acting Governor, Garba Umar and a former Director of Finance in the National Assembly.

    The breakdown of the list of aspirants so far include Akwa Ibom (18); Rivers (17); Imo (16); Delta (14); Oyo (12); Adamawa (13); Kebbi (10); Niger (8); and Enugu (4).

    Others are Abia (7); Zamfara (5); Kwara(6); Benue (6); Katsina(6); Oyo(12); Ogun (9); Bauchi (3); Yobe (3); Taraba (3); Plateau ( 7);  Nasarawa (3) and Sokoto (2).

    Findings confirmed that the increasing number of aspirants is worrying the party leadership.

    It was learnt that the challenges surrounding governorship nomination in some states made the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark to intervene in Oyo State when he hosted the aspirants to a meeting in Abuja.

    It was also gathered that the same development forced the National Chairman of PDP, Adamu Muazu and the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan to make separate shuttles to Rivers State to calm down frayed nerves.

    A highly-placed source in the party, who spoke in confidence, said: “So far, we have over 170 aspirants seeking the governorship tickets of our party in about 20 states. The number is likely to increase in the next one week because we are expecting returns from about 11 states.

    “This turn out of aspirants might look healthy for our democracy but it also shows that we have a major crisis at hand. It is getting difficult for PDP to build consensus in many states.

    “The crisis at hand is compounded by the determination of most of the outgoing governors to impose their successors.

    “Some ministers, who resigned last week, have also added to the challenges facing the party because they have presented themselves as “anointed” candidates of the presidency.”

    A member of the NWC said: “The fact that these aspirants do not mind paying so much for nomination form indicated that we might be faced with problems in some states. Many of the aspirants are desperate.

    “The party is certainly concerned because the nomination process is virtually turning into a war in some states. But the National Leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan, members of the Board of Trustees and the NWC will find solutions to the nomination challenges.

    “We are hopeful that things will take shape and we will be able to iron out our differences.”

    The president had on Sunday told PDP governors that there was nothing bad in having interest in their successors but they should put the party’s interest and survival above personal aggrandizement.

    The president told the governors that since most of them are completing their two terms in office, he will be the one to work with their successors.

    Jonathan said: “I cannot take chances, the PDP cannot take chances, we are interested in those who will be governors in 2015. You should not field unpopular candidates or else the party will lose.”

    The president said if he and the PDP were circumspect in 2011, the ruling party would not have experienced the defection of five governors to the opposition party.

     

    THE ASPIRANTS SO FAR

     

    Adamawa———————–13

    Akwa Ibom ——————–18

    Rivers —————————-17

    Imo——————————–16

    Delta——————————-14

    Kebbi—————————–10

    Niger——————————-8

    Enugu——————————4

    Abia——————————–7

    Zamfara—————————5

    Kwara——————————6

    Benue——————————-6

    Katsina—————————–6

    Oyo——————————-12

    Ogun——————————-9

    Bauchi——————————3

    Yobe——————————–3

    Taraba——————————3

    Plateau—————————–7

    Sokoto—————————–2

    Nasarawa————————-3

  • Balewa’s son: Jonathan’s consensus shameful

    Balewa’s son: Jonathan’s consensus shameful

    Mr. Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa, son of the late Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, has said the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as its consensus candidate is shameful.

    He said those who agreed to make the President a consensus candidate were people  trying  to escape the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hammer or governors trying to secure seats in the Senate.

    Tafawa Balewa said though he is the strong member of the PDP, he would not support the consensus because Nigeria is not a communist nation and the PDP a non-communist party.

    The politician addressed reporters at the weekend in Abuja, where he said that he was not engaging in anti-party activity for rejecting consensus and declaring his bid to run for the Presidency under the PDP.

    He said: “The consensus was taken very shamefully. We used to blame the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the constituent parties that made up the APC, that they don’t have internal democracy. They would just choose someone and say this is the next person; that we had internal democracy.

    “If you look at some of these people who gave the consensus, they all have loads of baggage behind them. On the same day, you would read in the newspaper that they had been given a pass that EFCC would not touch them and the governors would be able to get senatorial seats. So, all of these people are saving their butts. It isn’t out of love. But we will not make it easy for them to go outside of the democratic principles. I am contesting.

    “Choosing a consensus candidate for the party is not in the constitution of the party. I have been a member of this party since 1998 in the United States. We started the PDP. I remain a viable member and my rejection of the consensus is not being anti-party. We are not a communist nation. This is not a communist party. It is a democratic party and the name of the party is the PDP. It will remain that way. Even if these lily-livered people continue to carry out shenanigans, we will not allow it.

    “I love this country with all my heart and I cannot watch this country dive into an abyss. I can rescue it. I will rescue it; I am going to rescue it. I think that the Seven-Point Agenda by (the late President Umaru) Yar’Adua was a little too much. It was okay and doing something on a time line basis with the Transformation Agenda, I ask: What are we transforming? That’s because I can’t seem to go past the present continuous tense of the word ‘transform’; I don’t know what to transform. It is not moving where it should move.”

    He added: “I am in the race because I am a Nigerian. I am in the race because I don’t think Nigeria is going in the right direction. We need to turn the ship of state around and reposition it to where it should be heading.

    “That the NEC or whatever mnemonic you want to use has endorsed him (Jonathan); that is fine. I hope that when the time comes, they will vote for him. I am appealing to all Nigerians and I am putting my wares out to know that I can do a heck of a lot better than we have now.

    “Nigeria cannot afford to move at this snail pace because Nigeria is lagging behind in every area for a country this old and a nation this large. We are lagging in everything.”

  • Consensus not antithetical to democracy

    Consensus, according to the Merriam-Webmaster dictionary, is a general agreement about something; an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group. It also defines the word as group solidarity in sentiment and belief.

    Last Sunday, one of the national newspapers ran a report on the recent adoption of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi by the Enugu chapter of the ruling PDP as the party’s consensus candidate for next year’s governorship election in the state. Apart from the hear-say references, the story read quite well. But, according to a local wisecrack, once there is a BUT in a narrative, it cannot be wholesome again.

    The BUT in the story is the claim by a group, League of Enugu Voters for Good Governance (LEVGG) that the September 26 adoption of Hon. Ugwuanyi by the Enugu-North PDP and his subsequent validation by Enugu East and West zonal chapters as the party’s consensus candidate for next year’s governorship election was undemocratic. In a statement signed by its chairman, Robinson Chukwuemeka and secretary  Manifest Obioma, the group declared that the “so-called consensus option has forced other well- meaning aspirants on the party platform to shut up their mouth and resign to fate, albeit man-made. The result is that the larger people of Enugu State are faced with a choice made by one of three senatorial zones. While there is no question as to the right of Nsukka Zone to produce the next governor of Enugu State in 2015, that right does not extend to imposing an aspirant on the other two zones. The presentation to Enugu East Zonal Caucus on Wednesday, October 1, and Enugu West Zonal Caucus for Friday, October 1, do not (sic) and cannot validate the otherwise undemocratic methodology already adopted by the PDP.”

    While LEVGG’s argument may be eloquent, it unfortunately proceeds from some false premises. One, the claim that consensus as a ‘methodology’ for selecting a candidate for election by a political party is undemocratic is wrong. By its very definition, consensus is a very valid tool for democratic decision-making. If consensus means an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group, then it stands to reason that that opinion would be shared only after members of the group must have weighed the pros and cons of an issue and come to the conclusion that an agreement on such an issue serves their collective interest better. So, reaching a consensus on who is to bear its flag in an election does not in any way detract from the principles of internal democracy in a political party.

    Two, LEVGG argues that to allow Enugu North to produce a consensus candidate is to let the zone impose its candidate on the rest of the state and that it does not even matter that Enugu East and Enugu West have validated that choice. This is wrong-headed, in my view. Would the cause of democracy be better served in Enugu State, in LEVGG’s estimation, if the state were to organize an inevitably rancorous, costly primary, with chaos and mayhem possibly in tow, just for the world to see and say, ‘yes the candidate is the product of a primary election?’ Or would it be better served if stakeholders came together and unanimously agreed to present a consensus candidate, to save the state the bitterness and acrimony that that often come with primary elections in these parts?

    In any case, going by media reports, what happened in Enugu on September 26 cannot be reasonably equated to an imposition. According to the reports, all 14 governorship aspirants from Enugu North were invited to a meeting at the Governor’s Lodge, Enugu, with Governor Chime and all the party stakeholders from the zone. At the meeting, the issue of choosing a consensus candidate so as to make the up-coming primaries less rancorous was broached. Some of the aspirants initially objected to the idea and said so. But, after listening to contributions from other stakeholders, they became sold on the idea. One of the aspirants, Fidel Ayogu, former Nigerian Ambassador to Uganda, reportedly nominated Hon. Ugwuanyi and then moved a motion for his adoption as the consensus candidate of the Enugu North chapter of the party, who would be presented to the state PDP Exco for ratification as the candidate to be supported by delegates to win the party primary slated for November 29 this year. The ayes had it. What could be more democratic than this?

    To be sure, the Enugu PDP only took a pre-primary action designed principally to prune down the number of governorship aspirants from Enugu North to which it has zoned the 2015 governorship. This is with a view to reducing the chances of acrimony and bitterness down the party line that could result from a laissez faire primary election featuring all 14 aspirants and their supporters. As Governor Chime clarified in an interview published in several newspapers last week, the adoption of Ugwuanyi has not at all violated the PDP Constitution because it has not come as a substitute for party primary. When the primary election holds on November 29, Ugwuanyi will still be slugging it out with Senator Ayogu Eze, Eugene Odo and Chinedu Onuh, the three aspirants who didn’t step or haven’t stepped down for him, for the party’s ticket for the governorship election Enugu State in February next year.

    Those who criticize the democratic process in Enugu fail to see the larger picture in what has taken place, namely, that through deft party organization and management, the PDP leadership in the coal-city state has managed to put in place a sustainable party structure that has made the chapter probably the strongest and most peaceful of all the state chapters. The party is so well organized in the state—from the ward, local government, zonal to the state level—that Enugu is easily the only state in the country where no opposition party has had any strong footing, especially since 2007. This is because every decision taken by the party, every favour dispensed by it through the government machinery, every membership obligation discharged by stakeholders, is almost always just, equitable and fair. Isn’t it cause for applause that while the party in other states of the South-east and parts of the South-south are in crisis, that of Enugu is 99.9 per cent intact and at peace with itself? What is better in political calculations—in these parts—than a ruling party without an iota of crisis, which inspires a sense of belonging in every segment of the society and which gives practical expression to the vision of its founding fathers through its insistence on justice, equity and fair play as cardinal principles of governance?

    The disavowal of consensus candidacy by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP is a mere academic and hypocritical. It is akin to shooting oneself in the foot. Let’s face it, every candidate selection process that the PDP has undergone since its founding has been defined by consensus arrangement one way or the other. Right from Obasanjo’s candidacy, through Yar’Adua to Jonathan, party stakeholders had practically settled the matter of who would fly the party flag for the presidential election before television beamed the charade called party primary taking place in Eagle Square live to our homes. And, pray, what manner of primaries and subsequent elections brought some of the governors to power? Truth is that the only difference between what Enugu has done and what the NWC of the PDP often does is that the former is more sincere and less costly while the latter is largely hypocritical and outlandishly wasteful.

    But no matter. Suffice however to say that National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo’s preachment about the sanctity of the party’s nomination process is a mere academic exercise. He should stop wasting his time because even if his NWC manages to force party stakeholders in Enugu to verbally recant their adoption of Ugwuanyi, their hearts sure will not recant it. From the language of Oladipo’s press release, especially the aspect about not hesitating “to protect any of our members who in anyway stands to be short-changed, cheated or victimized…,” it is obvious where all this is coming from. But, he should beware of allowing himself to be used by frustrated pretenders to the throne who can’t live down the fact that they have been beaten by more popular, widely acceptable contestants, to cause crisis in an otherwise peaceful and progressive chapter. After all, consensus, especially the Enugu variant, is not antithetical to democracy!

    • Ezeaku, sent this piece from Enugu-Ezike, Enugu State.
  • I’m for consensus candidate, says Saraki

    I’m for consensus candidate, says Saraki

    Former Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki said yesterday that he suspended his bid for president in the overall interest of a better country and the success of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    Saraki, in a statement in Abuja, said “we need to change the way the country is run”.

    Although he did not endorse any of the major aspirants that had indicated interest in the APC presidential ticket, there were indications that the suspension might be part of the moves to build a consensus on a candidate in the party.

    Dr. Saraki said: “I am stepping down my ambition because Nigeria’s political outlook for 2015 is very complicated and this is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country’s overall interest.

    “I don’t think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next year’s election. I therefore think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem of the party.”

    He added: “I have always maintained that I did not leave the ruling party to join the opposition because of any personal interest. Anyone who understands Nigeria’s politics would know that it takes courage and self-sacrifice to do that.

    “ Therefore, whether it is on the issue of the party or all other issues that I have been pushing in my position as a Senator of the Federal Republic, I have been driven primarily by my desire to see a better and more purposely governed country.

    “Party primaries in any healthy democracy would always leave several contenders disappointed and, sometimes bitter, as there would be only one winner. The party would then invest so much energy and time afterwards managing and reconciling various interests.

    “APC can only live up to the aspirations of Nigerians for change if it is not derailed by too much acrimony from its primaries which is coming so close to the general elections.”

    “We need to change the way the country is run, we need change in our security and the values we place on human life, we need to change the current disgraceful situation in security and corruption.

    “ And I believe only the APC can bring about this change and give our country the leadership it deserves.

    ”This is why some of us felt that we must make the necessary sacrifice and contribute to building a strong and united party that provides the only real alternative to the floundering government that has become so constipated on power and lost touch with the realities that ordinary Nigerians grapple with everyday.”

    Senator Saraki recalled how he, along with other progressives in the PDP decided to “leave the party to join the APC when it was clear that PDP, especially at the national level, had become too invested in the personal ambition of one man at the overall detriment of the country and its democracy”.

    A source close to the former governor said: “Senator Saraki has had the opportunity to discuss and exchange thoughts with other Presidential aspirants, namely, General Buhari, Alhaji Atiku and Governor Kwankwaso.

    “Senator Saraki stated he is convinced that they are committed to see that APC will be able to come up with a credible and acceptable candidate that will take our dear country on a different path.

    “ Senator Saraki said even though his endorsement was being courted by the other aspirants, in the spirit of playing a role to being part of the solution to ensuring a rancor, bitter free presidential primaries, he will not officially endorse any of the candidates immediately, but will work tirelessly to see that whoever emerges is acceptable by all”.

  • Enugu PDP caucus in disarray over consensus candidate

    Enugu PDP caucus in disarray over consensus candidate

    •Chime: I didn’t anoint Ugwuanyi  

    •Enugu PDP ratifies consensus candidate

    The caucus of the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been divided over its consensus candidate.

    But Governor Sullivan Chime, who has been accused of masterminding the process that led to the emergence of House of Representatives member Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the party’s consensus candidate, has denied any wrongdoing.

    Many prominent members of the party boycotted last Saturday’s caucus meeting to show their disapproval of what they called a brazen attempt by one man and a few people around him to impose an unpopular candidate on the party.

    Among the party’s stalwarts who stayed away from the meeting are: Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, former governor of old Anambra State Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Fidelis Okoro, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke, Chief Anayo Onwuegbu, former Information Minister Frank Nweke Jnr, former Power Minister Prof. Barth Nnaji, former Foreign Affairs Minister Dubem Onyia and Senator Ayogu Eze, who has been insisting that the party should hold a primary instead of ratifying a consensus candidate.

    Others include former Senate President Ken Nnamani, who was said to be away in the United States, and several prominent members of the caucus.

    It was learnt that Chime tried to convince opponents of consensus to attend the meeting, calling them severally on his phone.

    Some of the leaders reportedly said they would not allow the governor to use them as the rubberstamp to his “handpicked candidate”.

    They wondered why the governor suddenly began to show them affection, after allegedly alienating them for about eight years.

    “The governor never took the call of any leader of Enugu State for nearly eight years. I will be a fool to fall for this emergency love. It’s a Greek gift,” one of the party’s chieftains, who spoke in confidence, told our reporter.

    It was also learnt that the governor changed his “usual” authoritative voice for a conciliatory tone to persuade the members to toe his line.

    Some of those at the meeting said they were surprised by the haste with which it was conducted.

    They also alleged that nobody was allowed to comment or move the motion on the consensus controversy.

    Some of the party’s stalwarts said they would not attend the meeting because the consensus candidacy violated the party’s constitution.

    “There is no way I would have joined them to flout the instruction and guidelines of the party. No way! The PDP constitution is superior to any individual in the party, no matter how highly placed,” another party chieftain said.

    But Chime denied the allegation that he masterminded Ugwuanyi’s emergence as the consensus candidate.

    The governor addressed reporters at the weekend after the caucus meeting of the PDP, saying members of the party chose the lawmaker.

    Chime, who gave a rundown of how Ugwuanyi was endorsed by the people of Enugu North Senatorial District, where the governorship is zoned to, dismissed insinuations that he imposed him on the party.

    The governor said party members from the three senatorial zones chose Ugwuanyi.

    He said: “I was there as the umpire; I didn’t participate in the deliberations. Mine was to guide them, to coordinate what was happening. So, everybody who wanted to speak was given the chance to speak.

    “All those who indicated interest one way or the other were there. All elected officials – government, public officers, state and national – were there. Past and present leaders were there. So, we met and, unanimously at the end of deliberations, it was put to a formal motion. Many of the aspirants stepped down for Ugwuanyi.

    “Those who had expressed concerns earlier, thinking that they were called to just endorse a particular candidate, after hearing from their kinsmen, changed their views and withdrew from the race. “Interestingly, at the end of the day, the two persons who moved and supported the motion were actually contestants who stepped down. Fidel Ayogu moved the motion and it was seconded by former Deputy Governor Okey Itanyi. The motion was unanimously endorsed; everybody supported it.

    “When I asked if anybody was against the motion, not a single person raised his hand. So, they all endorsed it.”

    Chime explained that marketing his preferred candidate would not be difficult because of what he called his wide acceptability.

    The governor said his hope and prayers were to make history as the first governor whose successor emerged through a consensus.

    He stressed that it would be fool-hardy for anybody to challenge the lawmaker, either at the PDP primary election or at the general election next February.

    On the statement by the party’s national leadership, warning state chapters against endorsing candidates, Chime noted that instead of the warning, the party should pat states on the back for having consensus candidates through dialogue.

    He said: “The party cannot and will never be against the party coming together to agree on a candidate. What should be their problem, if any, is if any level of the party stops other people from buying forms. Here, people are free to buy forms. We endorsed the President as a consensus candidate. It won’t stop him from going for the primaries.

    “But it will be a mere formality. Any other person coming out will be coming there to ridicule himself because the party has spoken. But it can’t stop anybody from buying form constitutionally.

    “That we have endorsed him (Ugwuanyi) is a statement to whoever that is coming that the party has spoken. But if you like, the party wants to make some money. If you like, you can pick your form. Nobody will stop anybody from buying forms. Buy your form and go for the primaries. What you find, you will take. Nobody is going against the party directives.

    “I’m not sure what they said affects us. As far as Enugu is concerned, we are not stopping anybody from contesting.

    “Thank God, under the present dispensation, all forms are bought in Abuja. Nobody has the powers to stop you from buying forms. If anything, the party should encourage it. They should congratulate us for this feat, for coming together to say this is our choice.”

    According to him, almost all the aspirants, who initially indicated interest to run for the governorship seat, have backed Ugwuanyi, who represents Udenu/Igboeze North in the National Assembly.

    Chime described the development as a major feat and an example for other states to learn from.

    “All of them (aspirants) have queued behind him, as far as I know. If it had not been by a consensus, all of those persons would have been saying things in the papers. They would have been telling you different things. As at today, it is only Senator Ayogu Eze who is opposing the arrangement, for reasons best known to him,” he said.

    Also, the Enugu State caucus of the PDP has approved Ugwuanyi as its consensus candidate.

    Rising from a special meeting yesterday at the Government House in Enugu, the caucus reviewed the series of endorsements for Ugwuanyi by the three senatorial districts’ caucuses.

    The motion for his adoption was moved by a House of Representatives member, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, and seconded by a former PDP National Secretary and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Rex Onyeabor.

    The caucus assured Ugwuanyi of its support to win the election.

    The party said it had not barred any aspirant from contesting the governorship election, if such a person insists on participating in the primary.

    In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, the party explained that the clarification was necessary because of the “erroneous impression” in some sections of the media through an aggrieved aspirant.

    The party said the aspirant claimed that he was denied the right to participate in the governorship primary election.

    It stressed that the PDP in Enugu State had always resolved its matters through dialogue and consultations with the people.

    The Enugu PDP said such approach had always worked for the party, adding that it had never stopped other aspirants from participating in its primaries.

    It wondered why a major beneficiary of the process was raising what it called a false alarm to whip up negative sentiments against the party.

    The party stressed that the choice of Ugwuanyi did not foreclose the planned governorship primary or prevent other aspirants from taking part.

    It said Ugwuanyi would still go through the primary election to be voted for by the delegates, with other aspirants who insist on contesting.

    At the meeting were Governor Sullivan Chime, Deputy Governor Ralph Nwoye, State Chairman Vita Abba, Senator Gil Emeka Nnaji, House of Assembly Speaker Eugene Odo, Power Minister Prof Chinedu Nebo, members of the House of Representatives and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu reportedly took permission that he was out of the country and would abide by the outcome of the meeting.

    Other apologies were said to have been received from Jim Nwobodo; former Senate President Senator Ken Nnamani; a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dubem Onyia and Senator Fidelis Okoro.

    Ugwuanyi is expected to be presented to the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party this week for final endorsement before the governorship primary.

  • ‘Adopt Buhari as APC’s consensus candidate’

    ‘Adopt Buhari as APC’s consensus candidate’

    Supporters of former Head of State and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain General Muhammadu Buhari are pushing for his adoption as the party’s consensus presidential candidate.

    They are putting pressure on the APC leadership to drop its plan of a Modified Direct primary adopted by the National Executive Council, saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would infiltrate the primary.

    One of the general’s support groups, the Buhari Vanguard, in a statement, said having a consensus candidate would save cost and prevent rancour.

    Chairman of the group Jasper Azuatalam, who signed the statement, said the group considered all relevant laws, including the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution, as they relate to the emergence of a presidential candidate and concluded that consensus was the most viable, cost-effective and unifying option for the party.

    The statement reads: “As an opposition party that has promised to reduce corruption in Nigeria, it will be in good faith to avoid an indirect primary election, which will cost so much money and lead to financial inducement by some who still believe in money politics against credibility and popularity.

    “In the same manner, an indirect primary will give the ruling party an opportunity to infiltrate the APC by influencing delegates with money and planting moles within the delegates to influence who emerges as the presidential candidate. This is because they know the candidate to beat in the APC and the PDP will do all in its power to make sure that such candidate does not emerge as the APC’s presidential standard bearer.

    “We also believe that the bitterness, rancour and disaffection that may arise from the contest will weaken the APC and give the PDP undue advantage ahead of the 2015 presidential election. It is clear from all available statistics and parameters that the PDP has no locus standi in the 2015 presidential election, as it will lose woefully in a free and fair contest because of its abysmal performance in government, which has earned them the wrath of Nigerians.

    “A consensual arrangement, as stipulated in Article 20 of the APC’s Constitution and Section 87 (6) of the Electoral Act, is surely the best option available for the APC. This will save the APC the unnecessary litigations, rancour and strife that accompany presidential primaries. If the PDP, with all the resources available to it and the power of incumbency, is working towards a consensual arrangement by adopting Goodluck Jonathan, it will be unwise for an opposition party to want to sell the dangerous region.”

  • Enugu’s troubled consensus

    A contradiction is playing out in Enugu State following the adoption of a serving member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the governorship consensus candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming elections. Reports had it that Ugwuanyi’s emergence was the outcome of a stakeholders meeting convened by Governor Sullivan Chime for all governorship aspirants from Enugu North senatorial district where the governorship was zoned. In that meeting, many of the aspirants were said to have stepped down for Ugwuanyi culminating in the adoption of a motion to have him as the sole candidate of the party in the 2015 elections.

    But the matter did not go down well with one of the leading aspirants and Senate’s works committee chairman, Ayogu Eze who was also at the meeting where the consensus was purportedly arrived at. Eze has alleged that he was invited to the meeting without being privy of its agenda and questioned the process that threw up the so-called consensus candidate. He had contended that the meeting was arranged to produce a pre-determined outcome leaving other aspirants without any choice and vowed to pursue his governorship ambition to its logical conclusion.

    Eze further questioned the democratic credentials of such a kangaroo arrangement that did not seek the views of all the aspirants before the final decision was taken.

    Since then, accusations have been levied from the camps of those opposed to the consensus arrangement and its supporters. A pressure group in the state condemned it on the grounds that it is a “desecration of democratic norms and internal democracy”.

    But some others have sought to fault Eze arguing that the process was democratic as it is in tandem with the PDP constitution 2012, as amended. One of such persons was Justina Eze, a member of the Board of Trustees BOT of the party. The BOT member feared that the chances of the zone producing the governor could be imperiled if Senator Eze continues to vilify the process leading to the consensus.

    As things stand, the Enugu East caucus of the party has also in a meeting at Government House endorsed Ugwuanyi as the consensus candidate with the West senatorial zone about to cue in. Despite the issues raised by Eze, all indications are that Ugwuanyi’s adoption is a fait accompli. It does not appear there is much Eze can do as Chime who is driving the process will likely have his way given the much abused incumbency factor. Soon, we may begin to see all manner of hurdles placed on the road to the ambition of Eze for daring to challenge the decision of the incumbent.

    But the issues that have been thrown up by this singular exercise cannot be wished away despite whatever merits there is in the consensus option.

    Inherent in them are posers as to the justification for a consensus contrivance that does not really offer any choice to other candidates because the processes leading to it were shrouded in secrecy. To what extent then can we rightly argue that such an option approximates the pristine tenets of representative democracy when it is deliberately manipulated to produce a known outcome?

    It would appear that is the point Eze is making. He does not seem to be against consensus as a policy. He is not particularly against Ugwuanyi as a person. He is against the absence of rigorous negotiations before the meeting where Ugwuanyi was adopted was convened. Had such discussions been in motion and invitees to the meeting told its agenda, the current controversy would have been minimized.

    It would appear to me that the senator reacted the way he did because the decision took him unawares. He may have put in so much in the pursuit of his ambition with high hopes to sail through. He may also have made plans the next day for the same purpose. For such an aspirant to attend a seemingly innocuous meeting, only to have his ambition dashed in one fell swoop is definitely bound to ruffle shoulders. His predicament should be appreciated. What it has brought to the fore, is the conflict we trigger off when we abridge that freedom of choice that stands out democracy as the most admired form of governance framework. It is for the same reason that some people constantly pick holes with the issue of zoning.

    Before now, we have been told of the array of choices which democracy promotes. If it is executed in its pure form, it will have no room for the contrived consensus that was the outcome of the Enugu North caucus meeting. It will also not admit the zoning of the governorship position to that zone. Zoning and the consensus option have their limitations when democracy is conceived in its pure form. But they are not entirely out of place within the democratic process. The issue is not just a rejection of consensus or zoning, but the logic, fairness and equity of the processes that produce them.

    The raging controversy in the Enugu case should be seen in this light. It is not a vote of no confidence in those options but a demand for them not to be turned into a tool by those in authority to subvert the collective will of the people. After all, Eze accepted the zoning of the governorship slot to the north without raising eyebrows. His opponents may finger a contradiction in his accepting zoning with one hand and rejecting consensus with the other. They may also raise questions regarding his silence when the two other zones were shunted out of the governorship race just to allow the north which has not had a shot at it take their turn. That issue can be raised. And the argument can go on and on. But the fact that the zoning of the governorship post to the north commanded general acceptance showed it was considered fair and equitable. There was sufficient evidence to support such a proposition. Same was not the case with the consensus option. The process ought to have been preceded by weeks of negotiations among the aspirants and their leaders. Apart from preparing their minds that primaries are likely to be streamlined, it will save them the energy and huge expenditure that have become part and parcel of electioneering campaigns on these shores.

    Moreover, if all of them had been taken into confidence, those who considered their chances slim, may have chickened out of the race leaving the most serious ones who can then be engaged in the consensus discussions.

    It is true that consensus may not satisfy all, just as direct primaries will leave a lot of casualties in its trail. But serious efforts must be made to build such consensus in both word and deed. We cannot build consensus when a behemoth somewhere sits in his bedroom and decrees his anointed person as the candidate. That is the issue that played out in the Enugu case. And that is why it is generating so much heat. Chime may have his way after all. But those whose ambitions he dashed in that abrupt manner are also within their rights to impugn the process.

  • Presidential primaries: PDP governors push for consensus

    Presidential primaries: PDP governors push for consensus

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are to push for a consensus candidate for the 2015 presidential poll, The Nation learnt.

    The governors may adopt President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s candidate.

    It was also learnt that there is pressure on Jonathan by various groups to declare his re-election bid.

    But the president’s camp remains silent on when he will declare his plan to run, although October has been fixed.

    It was gathered that the PDP Governors Forum, led by its chairman, Chief Godswill Akpabio, had been trying to persuade their colleagues and party leaders towards a consensus candidate.

    Their main motive, according to sources, is to keep the “PDP united to confront the opposition in 2015”.

    It was gathered that the same “idea” is being sold to all the structures of the party.

    The zonal rallies of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) is allegedly being used by the governors to gauge the consensus option.

    A source said: “With the exception of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, all the PDP governors are really working towards automatic adoption of the President for second term as PDP’s consensus candidate.

    “They want to make the presidential primaries mere formality at the National Convention of the party.

    “In fact, the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, is the main driver of the consensus option.

    “And if you look at the trend, most PDP governors have stayed away from presidential ambition. Instead, some of them are only having aspiration for the Office of Vice-President.”

    A PDP governor, who spoke in confidence, simply said: “Unlike other parties, have you heard of other aspirants for President in 2015 other than President Goodluck Jonathan?

    “I think we have almost agreed that he should continue in 2015; there is no doubt about this.”

    On what will become of Lamido’s aspiration, the source added: “He is entitled to aspire but the party’s decision is supreme.”

    The consensus option may be part of the agenda of the PDP governors’ meeting on Wednesday.

    A terse statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Aniete Ekong, last night, said:  “Governors elected under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party would have a crucial meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2014.

    “The meeting would hold at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro by 4 pm.”

    Although the agenda of the meeting was unknown last night, sources said the upcoming PDP primaries and the party’s national convention, among other crucial issues, would feature in their discussion.

    Some ministers confirmed last night that a consensus option was being built around President Jonathan.

    A Minister said: “Ideally, even in the US, once a sitting President discloses his intention to run for second term, everyone must fall in line. This thing applies to all the structures in the party.”

    There has been pressure on the President to declare his re-election bid.

    All pro-Jonathan groups are expected to converge on Abuja for a mini-summit tomorrow.

    Although the session has been designed to “streamline” all the groups by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali, a source said the mini-summit at the Eagle Square might be used to pressurise the President to lay the controversy on his second term ambition to rest.

    “We are really looking forward to the President’s declaration. We hope that he will bow to the popular demand, “a top source in Goodluck Support Group (GSG) said.

    But one of the top organisers of the mini-summit said: “While it is true that the President will declare for second term, he might not attend the mini-summit on Tuesday in Abuja.

    “I can assure you that he will not even be near the event. At the appropriate time, he will make the declaration.”