Mark’s emergence as PDP chairman threatens Saraki, others’ ambition

The PDP governors’ forum has backed the election of former Senate President David Mark as party’s national chairman; other heavyweights have given enough backwind too—except those whose ambition now come under threat.

Mark is from the north-central, and such post coming to him means a lot to other zones in the north, as far as power sharing goes.

Because other regions matter, and might not take kindly to any major ticket falling in the lap of the north-central again.

So the 2023 presidential wannabes from the north central are threatened.

Former Sen. President Bukola Saraki is threatened—because he is also preparing for the PDP presidential ticket.

An exclusive report by the Punch reveals what sources within the party think about the debacle.

“For Saraki, a Mark coming from the same north central zone may not work in his favour because it will mean the remaining two zones, the North East and the North West will be the only ones in contention for the Presidential ticket,” a source told the newspaper.

While former V.P Atiku Abubakar is from the northeast, his beef, the paper reported, is with Mark’s persona:  steady, mature, principled.

Atiku might find difficult working around him in his bid to secure the party presidential ticket again.

“They had both worked hard to make the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuayi-led zoning committee to throw open the chairmanship position in their recommendations; but it didn’t quite work out,” the source said.

But Atiku’s media aide has rubbished the insinuation.

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“Everybody knows the Waziri Adamawa is a committed democrat and will, as always, respect the sanctity of the ballot,” Paul Ibe told the newspaper.