Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other critical stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have already begun shopping for a replacement for embattled National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus ahead of the October national convention.
National Daily learnt that Atiku Abubakar, a former presidential aspirant of the party, and some leaders are already considering some party stalwarts for the job since some governors under the platform of the party have convinced party leaders that preventing Secondus from returning as chairman is in the interest of the party.
It was also gathered that the Atiku camp wants the national chairmanship of the party to remain in the southern part of the country to enhance his (Atiku’s) chances of clinching the PDP presidential ticket.
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While some allies of the former vice president prefer Secondus’ replacement to be sought from the South-south to appease the zone for his ouster, others feel the next man for the job should come from the Southwest for certain political reasons.
At least six prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are being tipped to replace Prince Uche Secondus, five of the aspirants are southerners like Secondus, the only northerner being the immediate past governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo.
Party sources named the aspirants as former national secretary of the party and ex-governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; a former deputy national chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George; a former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke; the immediate past deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd); and the party’s former governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje.
Although majority of the anti- Secondus forces led by Governor Wike are said to be rooting for a southerner as the next party chairman, some others, including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, are making a strong case for the position to be zoned to the north to ensure that the party’s zoning arrangement is not distorted in 2023.
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One of the names being touted to replace Secondus by those opposed to his continued stay in office is Chief Bode George, a former military governor of old Ondo State.
While he is yet to publicly declare interest in the job ahead of the October convention, sources close to him said “chief is ever ready to take up any assignment that will make PDP a better party.
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has already openly declared his intention to run for the office of the national chairman of the party. Currently, he is an ally of Governor Makinde of Oyo State.
Meanwhile, National Daily learnt that former governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, is being considered as a possible replacement for Secondus by those who want the position to go to the north as part of political permutations ahead of the 2023 presidential contest.
He is yet to declare interest in the race, but those promoting his candidature are said to be urging him to run.
READ ALSO: Gov. Wike declares war against Secondus, calls for PDP chairman’s resignation
Also being touted as a likely contender for the plum job is Jimi Agbaje, PDP’s gubernatorial candidate during the last gubernatorial election in Lagos State.
Agbaje is not a new comer in the contest for the national chairmanship of the party. In 2015, he emerged as the PDP joker, whom some of the governors wanted to succeed the former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, at the botched May 21, 2015 national convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.