PDP presidential primary: Wike set to clinch ticket!

0
437

*As Governors Forum pushes to ensure they produce party’s presidential flag bearer

*Resolves to back aspiration of Rivers state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike

*Governors are said be in total control of delegates from their respective states

*As governors and state chairmen vow to secure votes of over 500 out of 811 delegates

By Our correspondent

Barring any last minute vote swing, Rivers state governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is primed to emerge as the presidential flag bearer of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the conclusion of the party’s primary exercise holding at the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja this weekend.

In consonance with the provision of the Electoral Act 2022, as amended, the PDP adopted the indirect mode for the election of its presidential candidate, which means that only elected delegates from all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja would be eligible to vote.

A total of 811 delegates will elect the party’s flag bearer for the 2023 poll.

With the exit of former governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi from both the race and the party, the PDP now has 14 presidential aspirants that are expected to slug it out for the ticket.

However, latest indicators from the party point to the fact that the party’s Governors Forum have resolved to ensure that they produce the party’s presidential flag bearer.

Sources privy to the resolutions of their recent meetings told Nigerian Pilot that out of the three sitting governors vying for the party’s ticket, they have resolved to back the aspiration of the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

The other two governors also vying for the ticket on the shortlist included; Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state and his Bauchi state counterpart, Bala Mohammed.

PDP presently has 13 state governors, who it was gathered resolved to back an aspirant from the geo-political south in line with the party’s zoning formula and rotation of its presidential office.

The governors, it was learnt; are in total control of the delegates from their respective states and had resolved to deliver them to Governor Wike.

The other states that the party does not control, it further gathered, State controllers were appointed that had been mandated to deliver their delegates at the convention for the emergence of the preferred candidates.

Besides that, most state Chairmen of the PDP are working for Wike “because he has been there for them and has helped to sustain the party in times of gloom.”

According to knowledgeable sources, it was projected that the Rivers governor would be able to secure the votes of over 500 delegates.

Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has weighed in on who picks the PDP presidential ticket by advising Nigerians not to support or vote for some presidential aspirants who claimed their nomination forms were purchased for them by groups.

Most PDP presidential aspirants which includes; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Mr. Peter Obi were among the aspirants who said that groups purchased their nomination forms for them.

Obasanjo who spoke during a colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of Pastor Itua Ighodalo in Lagos, said the aspirants lied to Nigerians and should not be voted for in the forthcoming party primary and the presidential election next year.