GEJ's Camp Opposes PDP's 2019 Zoning To The North

Indications are rife that Nigeria’s major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is witnessing political rumbles within its ranks.

                       Acting National Chairman of PDP.

This is coming as the party prepares for a stakeholders conference billed for Thursday, November 12, aimed at moving the party forward.

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According to The Nation, the party has split into six groups battling for the control of the party machinery. There is also anger in the party over the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket in 2019 to the North.

Supporters of ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan are reportedly upset that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party announced the zoning, their reasoning is that the NWC members made the move in order to retain their posts in the March 2016 National Convention of the party.

The six groups are: Ex-PDP governors Forum; sitting PDP governors; ex-PDP Ministers Forum/ Jonathan group; the NWC; Reformists comprising Ken Nnamani, Ahmed Makarfi, Ibrahim Mantu, Iyorchia Ayu and others; and Northern elements, including many retired military chieftains, seeking dissolution of the NWC.

The party has allegedly remained divided despite the panel on reconciliation headed by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

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A source, who spoke on the issue said: “All is still not well in the PDP since we lost the election.

“Most of our leaders and members believe we need to reform the party beginning with the dissolution of the NWC. But members of the NWC are locked in a game of survival. They are also using a divide and rule method to remain in office till.

“Even some NWC members are already joining groups in the party in order to retain their seats at the next National Convention in March 2016.

“Some former PDP governors and NWC members are working in tandem to hijack the PDP structure in order to call the shots ahead of 2019.

“Since these governors have the financial war chest to finance the cash-strapped party, some NWC members are bowing to their instructions.

“Some former ministers and allies of Jonathan are not happy that the same NWC which accounted for the defeat of the party at the poll in April is still in place. They are demanding surgical reforms.

“These ex-ministers and northern elements are asking that the acting National Chairman (Uche Secondus) should step aside for a candidate from the North-East since the post was conceded to the zone. The last occupant was ex-Governor Ahmed Muazu from Bauchi in the North-East.”

Speaking on the issue, a member of the NWC who chose to be anonymous said: “We have just realised that the zoning was hastily done in order to edge out ex-President Jonathan from the race in 2019. The NWC has foreclosed Jonathan’s chances. This development has caused much anger in the party. The pro-Jonathan elements are unhappy with the NWC for allegedly backstabbing the former President.

“In fact, the NWC does not consult Jonathan regularly again on the direction of the party. Instead, the organ bows to the dictates of some serving and former governors. So, how do you reconcile in this circumstance?

“Jonathan at the weekend left for Germany and it is doubtful if he will attend the Thursday conference.”

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Meanwhile, a civil society group, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has indicted the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for flouting the Electoral Act during the 2015 general elections.

According to the CSJ, both parties over-shot the N1 billion ceiling for presidential election campaign expenditure as stipulated in the Electoral Act.

Source: naij.com