Written by Taiwo Adisa, Abuja Monday, 09 April 2012
THE quest to replace former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is fast developing into a battle between the North and the southern geopolitical zones.
Obasanjo had suddenly thrown in the towel last week few months to the end of his tenure as BoT chairman.
Sources close to the party said at the weekend that while the South-West geopolitical zone believed that the post was zoned to the area, the South-East had come up very strongly to claim the seat.
Former national chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali, from the North-Central is also said to have had a mention in the race.
Apart from Ali, top leaders of the party who have started taking deep look at possible candidates have also drawn up a list of possible candidates.
Sources confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that former president of the Senate, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has lately been mentioned as one of the possible replacements for Obasanjo. Others who have been mentioned include Wabara’s successor as Senate president, Senator Ken Nnamani, former number two man during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd) and former BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih.
Sources confirmed that some top members of the party had sounded out Wabara’s interest in the top post.
The former Senate president became Obasanjo’s enemy when the former president addressed a national broadcast over the alleged bribe for budget scandal, which broke out in 2005. Wabara resigned as Senate president on the heels of the controversy over the issue. The Court of Appeal has since dismissed the suit brought against Wabara on the matter by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The argument among some leaders is that the slot was not zoned to the South-West and that under the former amendment to the PDP constitution, only former presidents and vice-presidents could occupy the post.
Following the amendment to the party’s constitution in 2009, the membership has been thrown open to men and women of proven integrity.
According to the PDP constitution, the BoT shall have the power to elect its chairman and secretary, who will also be members of the National Executive Committee.
A source said consultations are also ongoing on the likely candidature of Chief Bode George, a former deputy national chairman of the party.
It was also learnt that some mention is being made of Chief Harry Akande, a former BoT chairman of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).
Sources, however, claimed that unless Akande gets a waiver, he might have been hampered by rule 12.76(a) which indicates that a member of the BoT shall be a registered card-carrying member of the party for not less than five years at a stretch.
via Tribune
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