To Douse Atiku, Wike’s Feud, PDP Govs, Stakeholders Seek Unaligned Candidate as Ayu’s Successor 

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

In a bid to ensure a rancour-free emergence of the next National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the governors elected on the platform of the party and other stakeholders are rooting for a candidate who is not aligned with the two feuding camps in the main opposition party, THISDAY has learnt.  
THISDAY gathered that the PDP stakeholders have intensified a search for a substantive national chairman of the party to be announced on August 15, 2024, despite the restraining order of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), barring the party from replacing its acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum, pending the determination of the suit before it.

Investigation further revealed that the governors and other PDP leaders seek to ensure that the candidate that will emerge is not aligned with either the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, which have been engaged in a protracted dispute and supremacy battle for the control of the soul of the party.

A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party told THISDAY at the weekend that the stakeholders and elected governors are tactically avoiding any of the national chairmanship aspirants that enjoy the support of either Atiku or Wike.
The NEC member also disclosed that the NEC of the party was unable to nominate a substantive national chairman in their April 18 meeting because the aspirants that indicated interest were aligned with the two feuding camps.
Atiku’s camp comprises mostly former governors and former ministers.
Leaders of Wike’s camp are the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, and former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

“With both camps spoiling for a showdown, the governors sensed the danger that could degenerate into a bigger crisis. They agreed in the pre-caucus meeting to put off the election of the substantive national chairman for another date to allow tension to calm down and also give room for more consultations,” the NEC member explained.
According to him, the governors and stakeholders are focusing attention on some persons who have indicated interest and others who could be persuaded to contest because of their political pedigree.
One of the aspirants is Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, a former deputy national secretary of the party, who was also the state chairman of the party in Benue State for over eight years.
 His appointment on April 18, 2024, as the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum was said to be a plan to make the governors access his capabilities to manage the party.
He is believed to be an ally of the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed.
A former governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam was a major contender on April 18 before the NEC meeting was adjourned till August.
He is seen as independent-minded and also a two-time governor, former senator for eight years, and former member of the House of Representatives for eight years.
Conrad Utaam from Benue State is also another contender, who came to the limelight when he went to court to stop the return bid of the former National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu when his ward in Gboko suspended him.

Utaam, a known ally of Ortom, had gone to court to ensure that the order of Benue State High Court against Ayu was not vacated.
This role has however remained an albatross on his neck, though his posters are all over Abuja and the party’s National Secretariat.
A former Minister of Police Affairs under President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Humphrey Abba, is another serious contestant. He is from Kogi State. Those against his aspiration have insisted that Ayu’s successor should emerge from Benue State.
 But Abba’s supporters have countered this argument, saying that when Audu Ogbeh, who is from Benue State, was removed as the party’s national chairman, he was replaced by Dr. Ahmadu Ali from Kogi State.

A former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Simon Mwadkwon, from Plateau State is also said to be preparing for the race.
He was the Senate Majority Leader in the present Senate but was unfortunately removed by a controversial Court of Appeal judgment.
However, a member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) told THISDAY last night that
the Plateau State Caleb  Mutfwang may not be disposed to have a contending force in the person of the national chairman of PDP from his state and may not be willing to support him.

The NWC member also revealed that Ortom is currently being persuaded to join the face.
He, however, added that if Ortom accepts to contest, his ambition would be dead on arrival as he had openly said that he would campaign for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Though he has not explicitly come out to say that he is interested in becoming the substantive national chairman of the party, the body language of the acting national chairman Ambassador Iliya Damagum also suggests that he is interested in the race.
Damagum’s campaign posters are all over strategic places in Abuja.
Damagum is from Yobe State in the North-east zone.

Justice Peter Lifu of the High Court of the FCT will on Tuesday, May 14 commence hearing on the suit restraining PDP from replacing Damagum as the acting national chairman of the party.