2019 Presidency: Northern Leaders In Dilemma Over These PDP Candidates

There are indications that the forth-coming National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is billed to be a battle among four of the 12 presidential aspirants of the party.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State are the clear favourites ahead of the party’s convention scheduled for October 5 and 6.

The aspirants have all shunned entreaties by the leadership of the party for a consensus arrangement that would produce one of them as the presidential flag bearer of the party for the 2019 general election.

But the leadership of the party, including its Board of Trustees subsequently decided the issue would be settled at the national convention either by consensus or direct primaries where delegates will vote for a candidate of their choice.

Since the PDP had zoned its presidential ticket to the north, all its aspirants are from the north. The other aspirants are: David Mark, Ibrahim Dankwabo, Sule Lamido, Ahmed Makarfi, Attahiru Baffarawa, David Jonah Jang, Tanimu Turaki and Datti -Baba Ahmed.

THE WHISTLER learnt on Tuesday that the Northern Elders Forum, an elite group of elder politicians in the north, is among the major stakeholders expected to play a prominent role in the selection of a presidential candidate for the opposition party.

As at yesterday, the group had narrowed the search for an acceptable candidate to four of the aspirants-Abubakar, Saraki, Tambuwal and Kwankwaso.

But a member of the group who spoke in confidence to THE WHISTLER, said the group was in a dilemma on who to support among the four men.

“While Saraki has the advantage of having a political base in kwara, and also the highest political office holder in the opposition, he is not regarded by majority as a true Northerner,” said the elder politician. Moreover, he said, Saraki is unpopular in the north and is not seen as a politician who understands the north and its aspirations.

The former vice president is seen as a money bag who has the resources to give the APC a run for its money, with the advantage of being acceptable to the South. “But up here Atiku is not as popular and does not have the grassroot appeal needed to defeat Buhari in his base.”

The two aspirants that hold the greatest appeal to the elders are Tambuwal and Kwankwaso-Tambuwal for his unblemished record, experience and youthfulness, and Kwankwaso for his grassroot appeal in the North.

But those who kicked against Kwankwaso cite his rift with his former political ally Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, the defection of Ibrahim Shekarau from the PDP and alleged complaints by even some of his colleagues in the senate about his arrogance.

Those willing to wave these concerns are also bothered by the possibility that the APC government may decide to haunt him down with the EFCC, which is believed to have a file on him. “Since his former deputy is now the governor of the state, and he belongs to the ruling party, it will be very easy to rubbish him and make him unelectable,” said a serving senator.

Therefore, according to our sources, Tambuwal is emerging as a clear favourite of not just the Northern stakeholders of the party, but also others in the South.

Tambuwal is said to also enjoy the full support of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who is the de-facto power broker of the party.

But the major concern regarding Tambuwal’s candidature is whether he can connect with the northern electorate, which is the political base of President Buhari.

“Tambuwal is seen more as an Abuja politician and may lack the grassroot appeal necessary to torpedo the APC in the north, and this is where Kwankwaso has an edge above other candidates,” said a frontline politician from Taraba State.

The difficulties of choosing one of these candidates is the reason some are predicting a stalemate at the convention.

This is what Tambuwal alluded to when he met party delegates in Birnin-Kebbi last Monday. He said: “Our party is still consulting the stakeholders on who to present to contest for the presidential position. If the consultation fails, we will do the primary and I will accept the outcome and support whoever emerges as our candidate.

But if he is prepared to accept the outcome, would others be prepared as well?