Contending forces in the People Democratic Party, PDP, are planning to make former Senate President, Bukola Saraki as the party’s National Chairman.
The former governor of Kwara state, is likely to emerge as the replacement for Iyorchia Ayu who was sacked last year after the party lost the presidential election.
Ayu’s ouster climaxed the struggle for the control of the soul of the party, between PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and five state governors of the party led by Nyesom Wike, a former governor of Rivers state, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The two influential camps are now jostling over which of them to produce the next PDP National Chairman, Daily Trust reports.
According to the newspaper, Atiku has thrown his weight behind Babangida Aliyu, a former governor of Niger State while Wike is said to be backing Jerry Gana, a former information Minister.
But, in order to avoid a looming clash between the two contending parties over the matter, some elements in the party are said to have suggested Saraki as a consensus Candidate for the position.
Recall that Saraki and Wike recently met in Abuja, even though the magazine could not confirm whether Wike has now agreed that the former Kwara helmsman should be the next chairman.
Those following what’s going on said the choice of Saraki was based on the fact that he could use his influence as a bridge builder to bring reconciliation to the embattled party.
A source said, “They know Saraki as a reconciliation, a bridge builder, and somebody they can trust to be neutral and have the capacity and resources to rebuild the party. The exchange of visits between Wike and Saraki last week is the first step the Wike group is making.”
Also commenting on the issue, a top chieftain of the party noted that party leaders were looking for a strong character to rally party members together after the Supreme Court judgement, depending on how it goes.
He said, “The Atiku group is comfortable with Saraki because they know it will be difficult to put their own person as chairman now because of the Wike influence. The visit is all about Saraki now trying to get a foothold across the party before the real hostilities start. You cannot say Saraki is an Atiku man or a Wike man, so both sides of the divide seem to be comfortable with his personality.
“Even though Ayu is in court, I believe when the time comes, he will be told to withdraw the case so that the party can move forward.
“From what we are hearing, Saraki is going around the party stakeholders to intimate them on his plans and the need for all to work together for the peace and unity of the party.”
The former governor of Kwara state was among the PDP Presidential aspirants in the 2023 election, but later dropped his ambition to support Atiku.
