Jonathan, Fayose camps battle for PDP chair

In from Olumide Olaoluwa …

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and forces led by Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, are battling for who determines the next national chairman of their party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ripples learnt that the intense battle is aimed at controlling the party structure ahead of a planned resurgence in 2019, in time for the next general election.

Investigations revealed that Jonathan is desperate to remain the leader of the party and believes that installing a new national chairman from his camp will make this a reality.

The immediate party chairman, Adamu Mu’azu resigned after the PDP’s losses at the last general elections following pressure by the governors spearheaded by Fayose.

A source close to the former President said: “Oga (Jonathan) is not retired politically. He still wants to control the party.

“He is going to determine the next national chairman. That is our project and it will come to pass. Just watch and see.”

Jonathan has a heavy war chest with which he can prosecute the project. Many members of the party also believe that he should be given the concession having been the leader of the PDP.

But forces loyal to Fayose are bent on frustrating the plan. Fayose, it was gathered, is perfecting acts to install someone as PDP’s national chairman.

They say since Jonathan led the party to its first defeat in 16 years at the national level, he should never be trusted again to lead the PDP.

Both camps are also at loggerheads over where the new helmsman should come from.

While the Fayose’s camp argues the new party’s chairman should be from the South since President Buhari Muhammadu is from the north, Jonathan’s associates are working on a replacement from the north.

Read also: Ribadu, Mohammed, Gulak jostle for PDP chairmanship

“Jonathan should go and rest in peace. He has done his bit and led us to where we are. It is time to infuse the party with new heads for rejuvenation,” one of the governor’s aides confided.

The former President’s camp believes that the north should be assuaged with the post to neutralise the towering influence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the region.

Investigations revealed that Fayose has reached out to former Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers) to spearhead the party’s revival.

Jonathan, on his part, is disposed to his former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Mohammed, to lead the party.

A date has not been fixed for the election of the PDP’s national chairman ostensibly because chieftains are still coming to terms with the party’s massive electoral losses.

Ripples… without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now