2023 Presidency: More PDP Govs Back Consensus

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has become the latest PDP governor to back consensus arrangement for the selection of the party’s presidential candidate in next year’s election.

The Oyo helmsman joined the list of PDP governors such as Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and others who have recently thrown their weight behind the consensus option being spearheaded by some leaders of the party.

The opposition party is not leaving any stone unturned in its quest to seize power next year from the ruling APC, and as part of that effort some PDP bigwigs have identified consensus as the only option that will keep the party together ahead the very critical election.

Governor Makined said the arrangement will lead to the selection of an acceptable candidate devoid of rancour.

Makinde disclosed this when he was visited at the Agodi Government House, Ibadan by Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President, Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto State governor and Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State governor.

The three politicians have spearheaded the consensus arrangement for the selection of PDP presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election, and have been visiting top party leaders across the country.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Taiwo Adisa, chief press secretary to the governor, Makinde said he’s prepared to work with other leaders of the party to ensure that the party produce a consensus presidential candidate

He said the party had adopted the consensus arrangement in the past and should also work this time around. Former vice president Atiku Abubakar emerged as PDP consensus candidate in the 2019 election.

“We did it at the last convention of our party, and that was the first time the PDP was able to achieve bringing in a national chairman for the party through a consensus arrangement,” Makinde said.

“We believe we can do it and we also believe that Nigerians will take this party seriously when they know that we are all working together to give to them a president through a process that has everybody’s buy-in — where there is no rancour among the stakeholders.

“So, I promise my elder brothers that we will work hand in hand to ensure that this consensus arrangement is successful.

“I have also said that, internally, we will ensure that people understand what we are trying to do. And where there is any iota of doubt or confusion, we will put a mechanism in place where it will get addressed almost immediately as we move along.”

Meanwhile, the Iyiorcha Ayu-led PDP, the magazine has learnt has agreed to throw the party’s presidential ticket open. This however negates the clamour amongst some elements in its ranks that the ticket should be zoned to the southern part of the country.

On Tuesday, the Governor Samuel Orton zoning Committee set up by the party to work out an acceptable zoning formula for next year’s presidential election recommended that the ticket should be thrown open.

The decision appears not have gone down well with PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and others who insist that power must shift to the south. They have all expressed their disatisfaction with thè party, warning that such decision could cost the PDP the chance of clinching power next year.