As ants swoop on sugar, a legion of politicians have indicated interest in leading the Nigeria’s ruling political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

At the last count, not less than 25 members of the party including the serious, not so serious and the unserious are jostling for the post even after zoning arrangement of the party. The race has been limited to only contestants from the South-East.

The contestants are the former Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, Ex-National Secretary of the party and former Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Ex-National Vice Chairman, Chief Fidelis Ozichukwu, the incumbent National Vice Chairman, Olisah Metu and Chief Engr Ezekiel-Izuogu.

Going by the list so far, it could be said that the five front runners are attracting the attention of stakeholders for different measures.

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Prof Rufai Alkali says the South-East zone would still produce the next substantive chairman of the party. He said under the existing arrangement, the South-East produces the National Chairman of the party.

However, since Nwodo’s resignation, the party hierarchy has been polarised, some want Alhaji Bello Mohammed to be in charge till the next party convention, others want the South-East to complete their tenure, which expires in September 2011.

Quite interestingly,  former President, Olusegun Obasanjo is among those calling for a candidate from the South-East for the replacement of Okwesilieze Nwodo in order to give the zone a sense of belonging. The former President is rooting for Chief Ojo Maduekwe, whom he believes is more qualified than any one else.

President Goodluck Jonathan wants leaders from the zone to decide. Hence, the leaders from the zone have set up a seven man-panel headed by the Imo State Governor, Ikedim Ohakim to screen eligible contestants from the zone.

From investigation, the battle is certainly going to be between Chief Ojo Maduekwe and former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim.

A new twist to the contest is a court order barring one of the contestants, Chief Olisa Metuh from contesting, an Anambra High Court had barred Chief Olisa Metuh from contesting following a court action by two aggrieved members of the party, Prince Emeka Eze and Hon. Tim Egboka.

The South-East therefore needs to put its house in order to achieve a common political front for the people of the zone to clinch the chairmanship position of the party.

The political question now is who wears the crown as the next National Chairman of PDP from the South-East geo-political zone?

Surprisingly, prominent Northern politicians are in support of North holding unto the party chairmanship position to counter-balance the power equation in the country between the North and the South.

But what is puzzling political observers is the impact of frequent changes of PDP chairmanship and stability of the party. Does the changes foster stability of the party and voters confidence in the party?

Chief Isaac Obele Eeh, former State Financial Secretary of the PDP in the State said that such changes of the party leadership would never foster the much needed stability within the party. He said “frequent changes will never ensure policy stability in the party,” stressing that a new chairman comes with a new vision, blue print and policy thrust for running the party either to reforms weaken or strengthen internal democracy within the party.

Chief Eeh advocated for internal conflict resolution mechanism to be adopted within the party to settle differences arising from the party’s leadership, rather than frequent removal.

However, the PDP leadership must ensure internal reconciliation within the party by reaching out to most aggrieved members in order to face the general elections as one united political party, as a house divided against itself cannot stand.

However, for failing to unite the home front and ensure cohesiveness within the party in the South-East, the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo was forced to resign his position prior to the party’s national convention.

The former Chairman was alleged to have played an undignified role between the camps of the two frontline presidential aspirants of the party, prior to the primary won by President Goodluck Jonathan.

However the last political straw that broke the camel’s back over Nwodo’s removal was his alleged disobedience to a lawful court order issued by an Enugu High court. Nwodo was alleged to have flouted the Court order and his appearance briefly at the convention angered the party leadership.

The PDP said “Nwodo flouted a court order restraining him from parading himself as the  National Chairman. His presence at the special convention caused  the party some embarrassment.

The Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Bello Mohammed also said,” the action of Dr. Nwodo dragged the party into disrepute contrary to the party’s Article 21 (1) (c) & (h) of the PDP Constitution.

Meanwhile, since 2007 when the position of the party’s National Chairman was zoned to the South-East, the zone had produced two National Chairmen within a period of three years, nine months. In 2007, Dr. Vincent Ogbulafor who was elected the party’s National Chairman as a neutral candidate between the contending forces in the party  to keep the party united following the polarisation of support for either Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, the former Senate President or Dr. Sam Egwu, former Governor of Ebonyi State  who were campaigning then for the chairmanship position of the party.

Three years into his tenure, Dr. Vincent Ogbulafor was forced to resign to pave way for Nwodo as his successor. Immediately, Nwodo took over, he declared the zoning principle within the party dead while he embarked on internal reforms within the party.

At inception on 24th September, 1998 as a political party, Dr. Alex Ekwueme became the founding and interim National Chairman who voluntarily resigned the position to contest the party presidential primary with General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. Chief Solomon Lar took over the  mantle of leadership and led the party to victory by winning the presidential election in 1999 and majority governorship seats in the country.

Engineer Barnabas Gemade, now PDP senatorial candidate for Benue State took over the party chairmanship position from Chief Solomon Lar.

Chief Audu Ogbeh, a principled politician took over the mantle of the party leadership to restore confidence of the party members. Chief Ogbeh did his best to improve upon the image of the party.

Today, Chief Audu Ogbeh is a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Retired Army Colonel, Dr. Ahmadu Ali whose tenure was regarded as the “Garrison Command Period” took over from Chief Audu Ogbeh and successfully led the party to victory in the 2007 general elections.

Political watchers argue that for the South-East to produce a credible leader to move the party forward, that leader must have the political clout to   lead the party to victory in the forthcoming elections.

The pitfalls of the past National Chairmen from the zone must be avoided by any incoming National Chairman. Only then can the party restore the confidence of Nigerians and in their party members.

Philip-Wuwu Okparaji