As 811 delegates begin the process of picking the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) inside the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja today, three aspirants, Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike and Bukola Saraki are in a close race to clinch the ticket.
Indeed, the battle is between Atiku, Saraki and Governors Wike and Aminu Tambuwa backed by some of their colleagues.
Out of the 17 persons who purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms, two aspirants were disqualified by the David Mark-led screening committee, while another aspirant and former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, opted out of the race and the party.
From the 14 aspirants currently onboard to contest for the PDP’s presidential ticket, the party’s delegates are expected to elect one of these presidential hopefuls. Sequel to President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to withhold assent to the amendment to Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022 which seeks to confer the status of automatic delegates on the President, Vice President, Governors, former governors, National Assembly members, among others, only elected delegates, one from each Local Government Area, are eligible to vote during PDP convention.
There are fears that the development could provide a leeway for a shift in the balance of power between the North with more local government areas and the South with fewer local government areas.
Atiku is believed to be banking on delegates from non-PDP states, the majority of which are in the north.
Most of the respondents who spoke with Saturday Tribune under anonymity expressed optimism that some aspirants are poised to pull surprises at the convention. These are Atiku, Saraki and Wike.
One of the PDP delegates from Ondo State who is backing Atiku said “the principal idea behind the decision of the party to throw the presidential position open to all geo-political zones is to ensure that the PDP does not deprive itself of the best candidate that can win the presidency for us in 2023.
Every political party wants to win an election. A political party is not a pressure group.
“So, we are here to win the 2023 election; that is our primary purpose, of course. Where and how to allocate positions is not as important to a political party like who can win an election for the party.
“This is the enlightened self-interest of the PDP as at today. It is the reason why the leadership of the party did not yield to the clamour for zoning and that same interest will determine the outcome of our convention today.”
Chairman of the Atiku Campaign Publicity Sub-Committee, Dr Don Pedro Obaseki, told Saturday Tribune he was optimistic that Atiku will be victorious at the intraparty polls.
He said, “Atiku is the candidate to beat. He enjoys tremendous support from the delegates who are of the indisputable conviction that only a visionary leader and unifier can galvanise the nation to overcome its daunting challenges and facilitate peace, cohesion, justice, fairness, equality and economic prosperity. We are at the convention to win because we have a credible aspirant.
“Atiku is exploiting the goodwill he enjoys among the vast political network of associates that he has built over time across the country beside his large war chest.
Another official of Atiku’s campaign told Saturday Tribune that the party would go for “someone with experience and is a good material to market across this country. With due respect to the other aspirants, I dare say that no one amongst them has name recognition like Atiku. Yes, Saraki has name recognition too, but you can’t compare him with Atiku.”
There have been speculations that the Ayu-led NWC of the party is more amenable to the emergence of the former vice president and had been accused in some quarters of working towards that.
Ayu has denied this, pledging to ensure a level playing field at today’s primaries.
Source: Tribune