For the first time in recent memory, the PDP resolved to go back to its Constitution in the determination of those to occupy two principal offices at the December 9 elective convention: The Presidency and the national chairman. Consequently, the Presidency goes to the North while the South is expected to produce the national chairman.

National chairmanship
Although the party insists it would not micro-zone the two offices; there is a general belief in keeping faith with the virtue of equity, it will ensure the South-West produce the chairman at the December convention. Only yesterday (Tuesday) at the gathering of the Northern PDP leaders and elders in Abuja, a former Chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali let the cat out of the bag when he said: ”We must be ready to ensure that at the convention, the main issue, which is the national chairmanship of the party, is well handled. If we don’t vote the South-West, we can as well forget the PDP.” Not surprisingly, the zone has thrown up four key contenders in Chief Bode George, Professors Tunde Adeniran, Taoheed Adedoja and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, each boasting impeccable credentials to boot. So, what do these men have going for them in a race expected to be keenly contested?

Chief Bode George
The former chairman, board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is a tested politician, brimming with huge experience. A former national chairman of the party in the South-West, George, a retired Navy Commodore later became deputy national chairman (South) and subsequently, deputy national chairman.

Professor Tunde Adeniran
A Professor of Political Science, Adeniran is a tested, loyal party man, famed for staying put with the PDP since its formation in 1998. A one-time Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Adeniran boasts of well-oiled campaign machinery with support from the Concerned PDP Mid-Rangers, a group of young politicians within the party whose membership is drawn from across the six geo-political zones.

Otunba Gbenga Daniel
The former governor of Ogun State recently got the backing of General Ibrahim Babangida who was said to have described him as a “breath of fresh air” while on a courtesy call at the retired General’s residence in Minna, Niger State. Although not much is known of Babangida’s influence in the PDP affairs these days, Daniel is not a candidate to be dismissed by a wave of the hand, analysts say.

Professor Taoheed Adedoja
Adedoja has travelled the length and breadth of the country to sell his candidacy to the party faithful ahead of the December convention. A former Minister of Sports, he’s a dedicated party man and arguably the only candidate with campaign coordinators in the respective six geo-political zones. He recently unveiled his ‘agenda’ promising to put an end to impunity and imposition of candidates. But in the words of his South-East campaign coordinator, High Chief Patrick Onyejiuwa, Adedoja is the only exception in the pack of contenders not in any way and manner, linked to graft or negative vice(s) at any point in time.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/four-horse-race-pdp-chairmanship/

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None of the above