Politics
PDP Chairmanship Race: Who Wears The Crown?
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
Rt Hon. Abbas secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Rt Hon. Abbas.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Mallam Balarabe informed members that Rt Hon Abbas was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Rt Hon. Abbas as the party’s flag bearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Rt Hon Abbas would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking after his declaration, Rt Hon. Abbas expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
The incumbent Reps including Emily Inyang and Godwin Offionio, in separate interviews
protested the handling of the primaries conducted by the leadership of the party in the state, saying it was skewed against them.
The aspirants further described the primaries as a charade and an embarrassment to the state.
According to them, the House of Representatives primaries fell short of the provisions of both the Electoral Act as amended in 2026 and the party’s constitution.
They accused the leadership of the party in the state, backed by Governor Bassey Otu, of violating the party’s constitution in the conduct of the House of Representatives primaries across the state on Saturday.
Hon. Godwin Offiono, representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, particularly expressed disappointment with the primary that allegedly disenfranchised registered members of the party in his constituency.
Hon. Offiono asserted that having failed to arrive at a consensus, the party leadership opted for a direct primary to decide the candidate for the 2027 election.
“But what I witnessed today was not only alarming, but quite disheartening that our electoral system have not shown any improvement, especially now that we have a man of God in the person of the governor as the leader of the party.
“How do you declare a result by 9:00am even when the electoral materials were yet to arrive at Yala.
“As an aspirant, I couldn’t even vote or see the materials for my own primary at my Okuku ward in Yala Local Government Area, where I come from. But no matter what happens I am still in the race and have not stepped down for anybody.
“The governor had all the time in the world to drive the process of consensus but he never did. As a representative, I cannot even see my governor. I called, no response. I sent text no reply. I am treated as an out cast,” he lamented.
In an emotion laden tone during a telephone interview, Hon. Offiono further said: “I could not believe that first term NASS members like me can be treated in this shoddy manner even when I don’t know my offence.
“I have been a loyal party man. I appeal to the governor to do the right thing, follow the Electoral Act and party constitution in electing representatives.”
Similarly, Hon. Emil Inyang of Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency said he still remained in the race and had not stepped down for anybody.
According to him, “If this shenanigan called primary is allowed to stand, it would affect the party’s fortune in the general elections.
“My appeal to the governor is to allow the people to decide. And if they so voted against me, I will rest and not fight over anything.
“There was no stakeholders meeting held to decide on anything before now, and someone can not be unilaterally imposed on us all in the name of compromised primary,” he stated.
A coalition of support groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has protested the disqualification of former presidential aspirant, Mr Tein Jack-Rich, from the Rivers West Senatorial race ahead of the party’s primaries for the 2027 general elections.
The groups, in a statement issued on Saturday morning in Abuja, described the action of the party’s screening committee as unjust and capable of worsening internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State.
The statement, signed by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Bilal Galadima, and General Secretary, Hon. James Ogenyi, accused the party leadership in Rivers State of favouring politicians loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, while sidelining long-standing members of the APC.
The coalition alleged that only aspirants aligned with Chief Wike were cleared to contest for elective positions in the state.
“How can our party allow only one man who is not a member of our party to make decisions or dictate the direction of our party?”, the group queried.
The coalition specifically faulted the exclusion of Mr Jack-Rich, describing him as a loyal party member who had supported the APC for more than 13 years and previously contested the party’s presidential ticket.
It also questioned the alleged clearance of Chief Felix Obua, whom it described as a recent entrant into the party and an ally of Chief Wike.
“How can our party disqualify Jack-Rich, a former presidential aspirant who has been loyal and supported our party for the last 13 years, only for our party to choose Felix Obua, a Wike loyalist who only joined the party three months ago?”, the statement read.
The group warned that failure by the APC leadership and National Working Committee (NWC) to address the matter as it could weaken the party’s structure in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
It called on party leaders to uphold internal democracy, reward loyalty and ensure a level playing field for all aspirants.
INEC TO BEGIN MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AS POLITICAL PARTIES SUBMIT REGISTER
All 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, the Commission has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Mohammed Haruna, said the submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections.
He said, “The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”
He recalled that following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a statement issued on the 27th of March, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
Mr Haruna noted that political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added, “INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.”
The Commission restated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.
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