Ahead of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled for October, there is a new twist in the leadership crisis rocking the party as some stakeholders are rooting for the next national chairman to come from the Northern part of the country.
According to findings, those behind the plot are also calling for the presidential ticket to be thrown open for all aspirants instead of zoning it to any section of the country.
Prior to now, the general belief was that another Southerner will replace Secondus with names like Chief Olabode George, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Eyitayo Jegede and Liyel Imoke being mentioned as frontrunners.
It was gathered that major stakeholders, especially former ministers and governors as well as some founding fathers of the party, are of the opinion that the party’s tradition in which all positions are rotated between the North and the South should be followed.
A credible source in the party disclosed that at a meeting held two weeks ago at the instance of former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Taminu Turaki (SAN), argument was canvassed for one of the founding fathers of the party to emerge as national chairman.
According to him, names of former governors of Jigawa and Kaduna states, Alhaji Sule Lamido and Senator Ahmed Markafi, were mentioned.
Others being considered are former Senate President David Mark and former governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.
Speaking further, our source said that the normal tradition of the PDP is that at the end of four years, all National Working Committee (NWC) positions and deputies in the South will move to the North while those in the North will move to the South.
