SaharaReporters has learned of a new twist in the desire of some top officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a six-month postponement of polls in Nigeria, with several sources saying a faction of the party would work to replace President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate.

In separate interviews with SaharaReporters, numerous PDP officials disclosed that many founding members of the party had lost confidence in Mr. Jonathan’s viability as a candidate, adding that a faction within the party had discussed easing the incumbent president out of the presidential race, and replacing him with another candidate from the Niger Delta zone.

“The only obstacle to the plan is that the South-South might kick against it, so we have arrived at a consensus to find another candidate,” one of our sources, a northerner, said.

“If elections could be postponed for six months, we will definitely replace President Jonathan as our candidate,” another member of the faction confirmed.

In a clear sign that the party was crumbling was within, several high ranking PDP members said they regretted letting President Jonathan carry the party’s flag as a presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections. Some of them confessed to being aware that the party’s prospects looked dire with Mr. Jonathan holding the presidential ticket.

“We are the ones who started the push for six months delay in the elections to enable us [to] put in place an interim government which would then enable the party to change its presidential candidate to somebody that is more competitive,” one official confessed. He added that Mr. Jonathan’s faction also sought the extension for their own designs, which was to explore ways of rigging the elections.

Our interviews revealed that many PDP governorship candidates in the north and elsewhere in the country were secretly working against Mr. Jonathan’s re-election or quietly distancing themselves from him.

One party leader revealed that some candidates in the northern area were all but campaigning for Mr. Buhari, the presidential flag bearer of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, some PDP officials told SaharaReporters that, while they hoped that President Jonathan could be sidelined to increase the chances of the party in the upcoming elections, they also wished that the APC would also dump Mr. Buhari as its presidential candidate.

The party officials claimed that key political figures across Nigeria continue to view a Buhari Presidency with mortal fear because of his stubborn personality and his promise to punish the corrupt.

Several of the PDP officials told SaharaReporters that the rift between Mr. Jonathan and a large faction in the party that wants him dumped was reflected in the responses to former President Olusegun Obasanjo who two days ago dramatically announced his resignation from the PDP, publicly tearing his membership card. Two of the officials disclosed that, while Mr. Jonathan’s aides launched direct attacks on Mr. Obasanjo, the officials at the party headquarters in Abuja adopted a more cautious and subdued tone, regretting that the former president had decided to leave the party.

Some officials stated that the party hierarchy viewed Mr. Obasanjo’s public departure from the party as a dangerous signal and as a major threat. “Chief Obasanjo doesn’t just come out swinging the way he has done recently unless he is privy to the existence of some third forces that are against President Jonathan. And to the best of our knowledge, the former president has never fought a battle like this and lost, no matter how long it takes him,” one of the officials said.

“The truth is that many senators, honorable members of the House of Reps and governors are loyal to Baba, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. So they are doing Baba’s bidding even though they are giving Mr. President [Jonathan] the impression that they are with him,” another party official in Abuja said.

The party officials acknowledged that the statements of former President Obasanjo in the last three days had caused a major havoc on the party’s plans to work towards an interim national government.

Several of the PDP officials attributed the fractiousness within the party to the way Mr. Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan, imposed unpopular candidates on the party in various parts of the country. Even though they agreed that Mr. Obasanjo had imposed candidates on the party in the past, one PDP official said the Jonathans consistently backed candidates who were extremely unpopular within the PDP and unelectable.

Asked if President Jonathan was aware of plans to replace him, some of our sources said the president knew that many powerful members of the party were not satisfied with his style and low performance. One source said former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and even the party’s chairman of the board of trustees, Tony Anenih, were far from enthusiastic about Mr. Jonathan’s re-election.

“President Jonathan’s candidature and unpopularity are damaging the party,” one official stated. He added that the party’s electoral prospects in the general elections had dwindled dramatically. “We are only sure of carrying about 11 states in the country, according to our internal polls,” one party official disclosed.

Party officials also said they were determined to change numerous candidates for governorships, the Senate and House of Representatives in several states if the six-month postponement ever became a reality. “The way President Jonathan and First Lady Patience Jonathan picked many candidates has now weakened the party across the country,” one top official in Abuja complained



http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/17/pdp-faction-wants-jonathan-out-candidate-party-faces-deepening-schisms#.VONFq-UBLaE.facebook

K.

Nawa ooo

in oritse femi's voice...okpolo eyes no be open eyes

First, I didnt read all that. Too long.

Second, this is propaganda too far.

PDP have come to realized that they have a bad product in GEJ. To win an election in Nigeria you need Kano, Lagos and Rivers. All are in the hand of APC. They have also realized that out of their 16 governor 5 in the North are working for GMB covertly. They are only sure of 11 States. And out of the 11 states Edo and Imo votes may be shared they are left with 9 states the South south and South East vote which the combined votes is not up to the votes of the south west not to talk of almost 12 million votes from the North West and East. If they get extension they may change GEJ or GEJ may work at rigging the election but election rigging is possible where there is mass support. The military they use in Ekiti state may not be effective again since people have got their method.

^^^ AN UNINTELLIGENT AND CRASS ANALYSIS FROM A PERFECT AIR-HEAD. WHY IS APC SO FULL OF LOW QUALITY BRAINS?

Lies... lies...lies... APC and more lies... why are y'all so afraid of your "clueless" GEJ while going about your failing Buharist campaign?
Though Nigerian didnt get the chance to FAILBuhari on this 14th. But they will not fail to MarchDownBuhari2Daura next month.

It is too late to do that.
Don't change him as it will be very easy for buhari to defeat him.

Another propaganda from the table of the APC

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PDP REPLACE HIM....I DONT THINK HE WILL WIN ANY ELECTION IN NIGERIA AGAIN FREE, CREDIBLE AND FAIR

.. .

I don't take Any news from Sahara reporters very serious

ControlX:
^^^ AN UNINTELLIGENT AND CRASS ANALYSIS FROM A PERFECT AIR-HEAD. WHY IS APC SO FULL OF LOW QUALITY BRAINS?

air-head, you want other air-heads like you to come and 'like' your post, abi?

OK oooo, one thing I know sahararepoerter for is that they give news of the future, it may look like lie or impossibility but just give it a month or two and it will start unfolding.

caselessogbuagu:
air-head, you want other air-heads like you to come and 'like' your post, abi?

Hohohahaheh.... i neva knew d word air-head could hurt so much. Anyway, i hereby tended my unreserved apology for calling u an air-head. The temptation to use it was great after reviewing ur analysis. Do something better next time...

ControlX:
[s]
Hohohahaheh.... i neva knew d word air-head could hurt so much. Anyway, i hereby tended my unreserved apology for calling u an air-head. The temptation to use it was great after reviewing ur analysis. Do something better next time... [/s]

trash.