An underground battle over who becomes the next National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has started in earnest with three candidates emerging top favourites for the seat, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo
Just two months after losing the presidential election for the first time since 1999, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is already dreaming big for the next election in 2019.
Now gradually easing into its new, but somewhat unfamiliar role as the major opposition party in the country, major stakeholders of the party have, in the last few weeks, been brainstorming on how best to reposition the party against the backdrop of its massive loss of goodwill among Nigerians, which has raised fears that it could become irrelevant in the political scheme of things, or in the worst case scenario, go extinct.
While the second scenario remains a far-fetched possibility, leaders of the party are however not taking chances.
Though presently in control of 13 out of the 36 states of the federation, not a few of the major stakeholders of the former ruling party are allegedly nursing secret fears that the PDP as it stands today, is at the verge of being blown away from the political space in spite of boasts by some of its leaders that the party would be back in power come 2019.
Soon after the last general elections, a fact finding committee was set up by the immediate former National Chairman to reach out to every major stakeholder, including aggrieved members and recommend the way forward.
Sources disclosed that one of the major recommendations of the committee is a holistic rebranding of the party through series of ways, few of which include constituting a new credible National Working Committee (NWC) and reaching out to its former members now in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to return.
But what is of utmost concern to the party leaders presently is the election of a new national chairman, with words rife that the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, is the odds-on favourite to succeed Prince Uche Secondus, who is holding forth, albeit in an acting capacity.
It was gathered that those rooting for Ribadu are of the belief that this is the most auspicious time for the party to catch in on to the former anti-corruption czar’s favourable public perception, which can serve as a match up to the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari. Ribadu’s integrity, said sources in the party, could be used as a bargaining edge by the party in successive elections.
The Nation further gathered that party leaders are also aware of the perceived image of the party in many quarters as very corrupt and are determined to change that negative impression with Ribadu as the national chairman.
As a matter of fact, PDP apparatchiks believe that the party lost the last general elections because of President Buhari’s anti-corruption credentials, which many voters keyed into by voting massively for the APC.
With the party’s national convention, where a new national chairman and other Board of Trustees (BoT) members will emerge, billed for August, strong indications have emerged that supporters of Ribadu have begun a mobilisation and campaign drive among members from the six geo-political zones.
“The leadership of the party is looking at somebody with a good track record of doggedness, forthrightness and somebody that is not easily intimidated. Nuhu Ribadu fits the profile,” a PDP insider said.
The source further disclosed that at a time when a man of high moral standing like Buhari is at the helm of the nation’s affairs, the PDP, now in the opposition, cannot afford to have somebody of questionable character or somebody who does not command the respect of Nigerians and the international community as its leader.
Ribadu earned global campaign while serving as EFCC chairman between 2003 and 2008, during which he successfully prosecuted cases involving several high profile individuals.
Moves to draft Ribadu, who was the PDP governorship candidate in Adamawa State in the last elections has gathered momentum, with some unconfirmed reports claiming that he enjoys the blessing of former President Goodluck Jonathan and some other party stalwarts.
Another factor working in Ribadu’s favour, it was learnt, is his relatively good understanding of the inner workings of the ruling party, having been a presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress Nigeria (now part of the APC) in the 2011 general elections.
Following the outcome of the last elections, a cold war had ensued among its leaders, with claims and counter-claims over the real reasons the party performed woefully at the polls.
Why North is favoured for the chairmanship
Insinuations that the PDP lost the last elections due to the refusal of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to honour a one term pact he signed with PDP northern leaders came to the fore again recently with a statement credited to Dr. Cairo Ojuigbo, the National Vice Chairman of the party, alluding to that fact in a newspaper interview.
This belief may have swelled the support base of Ribadu to become the next national chairman, as ceding the seat to the South-South as some party members are proposing, may completely obliterate the little support base of the party in the North.
Of the 19 states in the North, only two, Gombe and Taraba are controlled by the PDP, a fact that is not lost on the party leaders who are apprehensive of what fate lies ahead for the party in the 2019 elections if something is not done quickly to appease the region.
While the Ribadu candidacy is being strongly considered, those opposed to him say with the former EFCC boss at the helm of the party, the fortunes of the party may plummet further than expected.
The temperament of the former retired police officer, his sometimes controversial off-the-cuff statements and lack of relative experience to manage a complex political organisation are being cited by opponents as factors that may cause unanticipated crisis if eventually he emerges the National Chairman.
Interestingly, support for Ribadu is coming from unusual quarters. Beside Jonathan, former Minister of Aviation, Fami Olukayode, recently on his Twitter handle, drummed support for the Adamawa State-born politician, wit this statement: “The best thing that our great party, the PDP can do now is to draft in @NuhuRibadu as our National Chairman. We need credibility and strength.”
Other likely contenders
Other notable PDP leaders in contention for the position of the national chairmanship include former governors of Rivers and Cross River states respectively, Dr. Peter Odili and Mr. Liyel Imoke and the immediate former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed.
After he served his term as governor, Odili kept a low profile throughout the eight-year tenure of his successor, Rotimi Amaechi, owing largely to a cold war between the two.
Those who want Odili onboard the PDP chairmanship seat, argue that aside the fact that his name needs no introduction among many Nigerians; he would also easily command the respect of many party members, particularly the governors.
In the case of Imoke, who has consistently denied having any interest in the seat, it was learnt that his name keeps coming up on account of being non-controversial, coupled with his demeanor, two attributes needed to unite the party and move it forward.
His alleged non-interest in the contest may, however, count against him, sources say.
If the Ribadu option fails to fly, Bala Mohammed may be drafted to run for the seat, it was gathered. The former minister may not be too much of a hard sell as he is known to be a loyalist of ex-President Jonathan, who from all indications would have a large say in who becomes the next PDP boss.
