Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have won a major victory over the party’s leadership ahead of the 2015 elections by securing the nod of the Presidency to control the political structures in their states.
Under the new arrangement, which was wrapped up at the weekend, the outgoing governors have been given the go-ahead to pick their successors and also go for any office of their choice provided they ensure maximum support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.
The new development will enable no fewer than seven PDP governors pick their successors and also go to the Senate next year.
A top PDP official told Vanguard on Sunday that President Jonathan directed the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to hand over the political structures in the respective states to the governors.
The development, which has effectively strengthened the governors against all other contenders in their respective states, is, however, against the party’s earlier position to allow a level playing field for all aspirants to contest the election.
Muazu, it was learnt, had maintained that position until Friday afternoon when the Presidency reportedly asked him to allow the governors to have their way so as to give the President 100 per cent support during his election.
The national chairman was reported to have insisted that the party structures should be managed by the national leadership of the party to ensure that every aspirant had a sense of equity and justice.
Muazu had agreed with the governors to either choose their successors or go to the Senate rather than take the two simultaneously in order not to generate bad blood among the other stakeholders in the respective states.
However, the Presidency is said to have been warned by political strategists to reverse the position of the National Working Committee headed by Muazu to win the support of the governors, described as the key determinants of his victory.
The presidential directive may have been responsible for the freedom given to most of the governors to decide on the delegate lists of their respective states to be used in choosing candidates for the different elections slated for next year.
President Jonathan had two weeks ago alluded to the enormous powers of governors in deciding the fate of the President in presidential primary election.
He said: “The PDP constitution as currently practiced gives a lot of room for the governors to influence the election of the president.
“So, if a governor who claims to support you cannot give you at least 70 per cent of the votes, then you should know that that governor does not mean well for you.”
In spite of the new directive from the Presidency, a host of the aspirants are upbeat on their chances ahead of the November 29 governorship primaries, if the number of those who have bought the PDP nomination forms is anything to go by.
The PDP national leadership last Thursday extended the sale of forms for governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state houses of assembly elections.
Vanguard gathered at the PDP National Secretariat that there was shortage of forms for aspirants, while the State Executive Committees were alleged to be hoarding the forms, only to return them unused at the end of the exercise.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, on Thursday announced that the NWC had extended the deadline for the sale of nomination forms for all categories of aspirants, which according to the party, ought to have closed on October 30.
Metuh added that sale of forms will now end this week.
For the Rivers race, 24 aspirants, as of last Friday, had purchased their expression of interest and nomination forms to contest on the platform of the PDP for the seat presently occupied by Governor Chibuike Amaechi of the All Progressives Congress.
They are:
Nyesom Wike
Dr. Silva Orusunju
Bernard Barida Mikko
Emmanuel Georgewill
Biobele Odesola
Capt. Nwankwo Sunday Friday
Abu Atedogh Hart
Gabriel Pidomson
Ibinabo Michael West
Alabo Samuel Horsefall
Baridam Monday
Ngerebara Adamu
Engr. Reynolds Dagago-Jack
Duno Lulu-Briggs
Prince Tonye Princewill
Atamuno Atamuno
Dumbari Dimkpa
Fafaa Dan-Princewill
Nimisoere Welson-Jack
Oseleya Dominic Ojuka
Major Lancelot Anyanya (rtd)
Senator Lee Maeba
Tamununosis Gogo Jaja
Oden Ajumogobia.
In Delta State, those who want Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s job and have purchased the PDP forms include:
Victor Ochei
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa
Ovie Omoh-Agege
Tony Chucks Obuh
Professor Sylvester Monye
Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo
Elder Godsday Orubebe
Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi
Mrs Esther Uduehi
Andrew Warri
Ndudi Godwin Elumelu
Opone Johnson Ossai
Dr. Akwara Oghenovo
Prince Sam Obi
Ndidi Rose Ofonwe Abunam
Ngozi Olejeme
David Edevbie
Godswill Monday Obielum
Charles Chukwuemeka
Chief Gabriel Chukwuma Oyibode
In Akwa Ibom State, there is a litany of 25 PDP hopefuls angling to succeed Governor Godswill Akpabio.
In this league are:
Senator Helen Esuene O Etteh
Nsima Ekere
Umana Okon Umana
Obong Bassey Albert
Ime Bassey Albert
Benjamin Okoko
Udom Emmanuel
Asuquo Asuquo Okon
David Stephen Okon
Ekpenyong Eyo Ntekim
Obong Bassey A. Akpan
Prof. Richard Peters King
Pastor Ita Uno Udoh
Effiong Etim Abia.
Amb. Assam Ekanem Assam
Bishop Samuel Akpan
Dr. Samuel Udonsak
Okon Ikpong
Dr. Jerome Isanngedihi
Ime Effiong Ekanem
Anietie Jonny U
Udom Gabriel Emmanuel
Lady Roberta Nyong
Lawrence Bassey Esin
Effiong Usim
Dr. Peter Esuh
Michael Etuk
Engr. Patrick Akpan
Those who want to sack Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on the platform of the PDP are 22, namely:
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume
Chuka Odom
Chief Ikedi Ohakim
Senator Christiana Anyanwu
Emeka Ihedioha
Chief Charles Onyeabbako
Evang. Chris Brown Amadi
Senator Bright Nwanne
Ifeyinwa Maureen Okafor
Dr. Obioma Agomuwa
Amb. Obinna Adim
Humphrey Anumudu
Prof. Jude Njoku
Ken Njemanze (SAN)
Bethel Nnameka Amadi
Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN)
Ken Ojiri
Chief Clara Njoku
Dr. Charles Amange
Dr. Julius Kpaduwa
Chief Jerry Chukwueke
Obioma Success Akagburouke
For Kano State, those who want to succeed Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on the banner of the PDP are sons of two former military heads of state – Mohammed Sani Abacha (late General Sani Abacha’s son) and Abba Risqua Murtala Muhammed (son of late General Murtala Muhammed) as well as Ahmed Mansur.
There are 10 aspirants jostling to succeed Governor Aliyu Muazu Babanginda of Niger State.
The aspirants are:
Umar Mohammed Nasko
Peter Ndobake Gana
Alhaji Sale Sahabi
Ahmed Musa Ibeto
Col. Aminu Kontagora (rtd)
Muazu Sarkin Sudan Hamfi
Mustapha Bello
Senator Nuhu Aliyu
Alhaji Garba Mohammed Dukku
Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya.
Those who purchased the PDP forms and want to stop Senator Abiola Ajimobi of the APC from getting a second term in Oyo State are:
Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala
Senator Teslim Folarin
Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde
Dr. Owolabi Babalola
Prof. Taoheed Adedoja
Engr. Femi Babalola
Prof. David Adejumo
Alhaji Hakeem Gbolarumi
Dr. Azeez Adeduntan
Ayo Ademola Adeseun
The 18 contenders jostling for the PDP ticket to take over from Governor Gabriel Suswam in Benue State are:
Dr. Samuel Ortom
Samuel Ode
Chief Steven Lawani
Prof. David Ker
Chief Mike Aondoakaa
Dr. Eugene Aliegba
Adum Alex Tera
Engr. Roseline Ada Chenge
Dr. Matthias Oyigeya
Terhemen Tarzoo
Comrade Simon Anchaver
Gabriel Twuhrm Nyitse
Engr. Felix Atume
Dr. James Twwuhe Mbachintin
Prince Anov Akhayar Uwouki
Terhemba Nongo
Dr. Terhemba Shija
In Abia State, the 11 hoping to win the PDP flag and thereafter contest the governorship election to succeed Governor Theodore Orji are:
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe
Senator Nkechi Nwaogu
Dr. Uchechikwu Sampson Ogah
F.N. Nwosu
Chief Chukwuemeka Wogu
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu
Orji Iheanacho Okezie
Eric Acho Nwakanma
Amb. Okechukwu Emuchay
Dr. Alex Otti
Marc Wabara.
Vanguard.
