PDP chairmanship: What you need to know about top contenders

There are Eight top members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) currently jostling to take over from the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the party in less than 24 hours.

The eight politicians are scattered across the southern part of the country and they have made their ambition known ahead of the party’s convention slated for August 17, 2016.

Top among the contenders, include Chief Bode George, a former deputy national vice chairman of the party; Prince Uche Secondus, the immediate national vice chairman of the party; Cairo Ojougboh, the immediate past national vice chairman (south-south); Raymond Dokpesi, a media mogul, Jimi Agbaje, the PDP governorship candidate for Lagos in 2015, Professor Tunde Adeniran and Senator Bode Olajumoke, a former senator and top ranking member of the party.

READ ALSO: Five things a successful PDP convention could mean for APC

While preparations for the August 17 convention has been halted, the debate over how party offices should be zoned is yet to abate.

Naij.com takes a look at the profile of 5 these candidates:

1. Jimi Agbaje

Agbaje, a prominent politician and businessman based in Lagos, is being tipped to take over the national chairmanship of the PDP. The former PDP guber candidate who contested against Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state in 2015, is seen by some of the party members as one on whose shoulders the urgent need to restore the party’s lost glory should lie.

It is learnt that Agbaje currently enjoys widespread acceptance in other geo-political zones over and above any other candidate.

“Agbaje’s aspiration is receiving positive attention across the country. This is because his candidacy is being vigorously sold by those supporting him. He enjoys the support of PDP governors in his zone. They are going all out to project him as the man for the job and this is working well in his interest,” a source said.

2. Professor Tunde Adeniran

Adeniran, a founding member of the party, was the chairman of the electoral panel for the party’s 2011 National Convention  is one of the contenders for the national chairmanship position of the PDP.

Supporters of Adeniran, a political scientist and product of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and Columbia University in the United States of America, USA, see him as the most qualified among those seeking to occupy the highly exalted seat of the PDP.

Associates of the Ekiti-born Professor believe that he has all what it takes to be in the helms of affairs of the PDP, considering his level of education, exposure, experience in politics and governmental matters.

Adeniran a former minister of education and one-time Nigerian Ambassador to Germany stands out as a man of integrity and is much more positioned to restructure, reorganize and reform the PDP for greatness.

3. Chief Raymond Dopkesi

Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Dokpesi, is leaving nobody in doubts of his determination to clinch the position as he has already kicked off his campaign for the national chairmanship of the PDP. He started by receiving blessings from his traditional ruler, the Okumagbe of Weppa-Wanno.

A statement from his campaign office said Dokpesi has embarked on a tour to “personally meet with, listen to and address all the delegates of the party who shall be voting at the National Convention slated for the 17th of August 2016 in Port Harcourt.

READ ALSO: Fast all in one — UC Browser

Party sources claim Dokpesi is banking on the support he currently enjoys from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s political camp. It is learnt that Dokpesi’s ambition is hinged on his relationship with the former first family and some prominent members of the immediate past PDP administration.

“He is one of the now very few loyalists of the former president that have remained true to him since he left office and considering the fact that Jonathan is the only former president still functioning within the party, he is expected by Dokpesi and his supporters to swing victory his way,” a party source said.

4. Bode George

George is the former national vice-chairman southwest zone of the PDP. He was the military governor of Ondo state, and later chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

His aspiration received a boost as stakeholders of Lagos Mainland endorsed him, saying victory for George at the convention would translate to victory for PDP in the 2019 Presidential Election.

George was close to former president Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2001 he was made the PDP’s national vice-chairman in the southwest zone. Later he became PDP Deputy National Chairman, South, and then the National Deputy Chairman of the PDP.

READ ALSO: 6 scenarios to watch at the PDP convention in Rivers

It is alleged that the former national vice-chairman southwest zone of the PDP said he is very disappointed with the insistence of Agbaje, not to step down for him over the national chairmanship contest of the party.

Chief George is someone who had climbed through the ladder and garnered political experience that no other aspirant could boast of.

5. Dr Cairo Ojougboh

Ojougboh is the immediate past vice chairman (south south). He was one of the party’s mainstream national officials that were removed at the party’s May 21 botched convention in Port Harcourt.

He  was Chairman of the Board of the NEPZA, the sole Federal Government Parastatal that can designate areas as free zones.

The post PDP chairmanship: What you need to know about top contenders appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read Naij.com 24/7.