Oyinlola, Agbaje, Imoke, Others In Race To Succeed Secondus
*Chairmanship Ticket May Be Zone To South
There are indications that six prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are being tipped to replace the party’s embattled national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, at the October national convention,.
Five of the aspirants are southerners like Secondus, the only northerner being the immediate past governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo.
Party sources named the aspirants as former national secretary of the party and ex-governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; a former deputy national chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George; a former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke; the immediate past deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd); and the party’s former governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje.
Observers said that the preponderance of southerners in the race was an indication that the party was preparing the ground for the emergence of its presidential candidate from the north.
More aspirants may signal their interest before the convention.
Sources said that the convention would be a make-or -break affair because it will define the future of the party.
Groups and concerned members are holding consultations to ensure that the party comes out stronger after the current National Working Committee (NWC) quits.
Although the convention is statutorily scheduled for December, governors elected on the platform of the party at a recent meeting, which also had in attendance some other stakeholders, recommended that the convention be held in October as part of the peace deal struck to resolve the crisis rocking the PDP.
The crisis stemmed from the disagreement between Secondus and his erstwhile political godfather, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
