If
President Goodluck Jonathan has his way come July at the special
convention of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, the National Working
Committee of the party which will be elected there will be filled with
his loyalists.
Already, supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan
and the party leadership have initiated moves to ensure that some
immediate past members ofthe PDP National Working Committee do not
return to the committee.
It was revealed that the President and
Tukur’s loyalists have also identifiedsome prominent PDP members who
lost out during the party’s 2012 national convention as aspirants that
must be stopped from being elected into the NWC at the forthcoming
convention of the party, as such politiciansare those said to be against
Jonathan’s 2015 ambition and Tukur’s continued leadership of the PDP.
Our source in Abuja said that the loyalists decided tomove against such
politicians on learning that they had started reaching out to see if
they could be favoured in the forthcomingspecial convention of the party
slated for July 20.
The source boasted that theambition of some of
the eight NWC members who resigned during last Thursday’s 61st
committee meeting of the party, to return to their former offices would
not be feasible.
The eight – Dr. Sam Jaja (Deputy National
Chairman),Abubakar Mustapha (National Organising Secretary), Alhaji
Garba Chima (National Youth Leader), Chief Solomon Onwe (Acting
National Secretary), Kema Chikwe (Woman Leader), Victor Kwom (National
Legal Adviser), Chief Olisa Metuh (National Publicity Secretary), and
Bala Kaoje (National Treasurer) – were among 17 officers of the PDP
whose positions were voided by the Independent National Electoral
Commission for not meeting the party’s guidelines.
Our source in the
PDP said, “Jonathan is in charge. Tukur is also in charge of the PDP. I
can tell you that any member of our party perceived to be against the
President’s 2015 ambition and Tukur’s leadership of the PDP cannot be
elected an NWC member. Quote me.The President’s loyalists andmany of our
governors in support of the chairman have started what I call ‘stop
them moves’. So, I do not see how they can seek election on July 20
when our special convention would hold and win.”
Jaja is seen as
an ally of the Governor of Rivers State, Mr.Rotimi Amaechi, who has been
suspended from the party. Governors close to Amaechi, who heads the
Nigeria Governors’ Forum, are believed to be the arrowheads of the
opposition against Jonathan’s 2015 ambition and Tukur’s leadership.
Investigations showed that some hawks in the party have already started
pushing for Jaja’s replacement with another candidate.
In this regard, the name of the former occupier of the office, Mr. Uche Secondus, who is also from the state, is being touted.
Secondus, though a native of the state, was loyal to Amaechi but
shifted his loyalty during the crisis thatled to the disqualification
offormer Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timi Sylva, from running for a
second term.
Also, intense lobbying is said to be ongoing to
prevent Kaoje from returning to office as he is said not to meet the
constitutional provision for the office.
Kaoje is an engineer, while the PDP constitution stipulates that the party’s treasurer must be an accountant.
Chapter V of the constitution, which states the duties and
qualificationsof national officers, says, concerning the treasurer, “a
national treasurer shall be an accountant with track records of
prudence.”
Apart from this, Kaoje is saidto have argued against the
suspension of the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, by the
PDP leadership as one of the fewmembers of the NWC, who advised against
the governor’s suspension, whohas since been recalled.
His action was termed as “anti-Jonathan” by some close allies of the President.
Our correspondent gatheredthat it was because of the pressure to
replace some of the officers with the President’s loyalists that made
the convention committee to call for fresh nominations.
Already,
Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu, who is vying for the office of National
Publicity Secretary, has hailed the call for fresh nomination.
While
commending the call for fresh nomination, Iwuanyanwu told our
correspondent that the action of the party showed it was patriotic.
He said, “The development has once again proved that the PDP is a party
of patriots and democrats with unqualified credentialsand statesmanship.
“The decision will heal the wounds of 2012 national convention by
allowing delegates to choose their leaders through a transparent, open,
democratic process.”
The Secretary of the committee, who is also the
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, confirmed the
re-opening ofnomination for the offices.
He, however, said that the committee would keep to zoning.
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