By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Ahead of the forthcoming national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, no fewer than six of its members from the southern part of the country are believed to be eyeing the position of its National Chairmanship.
The National convention of the PDP has been slated to hold latest by the end of October this year.
The decision to fix the national convention of the PDP for October, as against the initial date of December, this year, was one of the decisions reached by the national stakeholders’ meeting of the party in Abuja last week.
Among those eyeing the top position of the National Chairman of the main opposition party in the country are; founder of DAAR Communication (owner of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower Radio), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, forrmer national secretary of the party and ex-governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and erstwhile deputy national chairman (South) of the PDP, Chief Olabode George.
Others are; former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke; the immediate past deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral John Jonah, rtd, and the party’s former governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje.
Similarly, a former presidential aspirant and immediate past Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo is believed to also be in the race.
Credible sources within the PDP confirmed that more aspirants may also join the race before the arrangements for the party’s national convention kick off.
It was reliably gathered that the PDP may have resolved to zone it’s presidential ticket to the Northern part of the country.
One of the sources said, “From the look of things, there are strong indication that more aspirants may signal their interest before the convention.
“More groups and concerned members of the PDP are holding consultations to ensure that the party comes out stronger after the current National Working Committee (NWC) quits”, it said.
It will also be recalled that the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan had, in a statement last week, said that members of the current National Working Committee, NWC, of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, are nor barred from exercising their rights, under the constitution of the party, to contest in the forthcoming National Convention of the party, the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan has said
Ologbondiyan said this in a statement shortly after the stakeholders fixed the party’s National convention for October this year
The explanation, according to the PDP’s national spokesperson, has become imperative given misrepresentations of the outcome of the intervention by elders and leaders of the party on the challenges that faced the PDP recently.
According to the statement by Ologbondiyan, “Sequel to barrage of enquiries from members of the public regarding the status of current members of the National Working Committee (NWC), the NWC wishes to clarify that no decision was taken to bar any member of the NWC from exercising his or her rights under the constitution of the PDP to contest in the forthcoming National Convention of the party.
“This explanation has become imperative given misrepresentations of the outcome of the intervention by elders and leaders of the party on the challenges that faced the PDP recently.
“While the PDP has put these challenges behind it, the NWC states that it will continue to adapt itself to the Constitution, traditions and practices of the party in carrying out its responsibilities.
“The NWC therefore charges members of the party to remain focused in their commitment as we jointly work to further strengthen our party for the tasks ahead”, he said.
The National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the PDP is expected to hold soon.
