Barring any lastminute change in plan, former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, might emerge as the next National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Multiples sources confirmed to New Telegraph that major stakeholders in the party have endorsed Adeniran’s candidature for the PDP national chairmanship. “Northern caucus and former presidents are with him. The Northern caucus is going to take a common position this week to back Adeniran. Most of the stakeholders are rooting for the former minister. He is the choice of the party.

That is the general consensus of the PDP, although there might be dissenting voices,” an influential member of the PDP told New Telegraph. A party leader also told New Telegraph that PDP has zoned the national chairmanship to the South- West.

Adeniran is one of the six persons who have indicated interest to contest the party’s number one office at the December 9 National Convention. Others are former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and founding Chairman of Daar Communications, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi. PDP governorship candidate for Lagos State in 2015, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, and former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, are also in the race. There are indications that former Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and former Oyo State governor, Rashidi Ladoja, who just returned to the PDP, are equally nursing the ambition.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party will meet tomorrow to fix a date for the convention, which many believe will hold on December 9 in Abuja. The National Caretaker Committee of the party will, the same day, meet with the chairmanship aspirants at the PDP National Secretariat, shortly before the NEC meeting.

It is not yet clear the purpose of the meeting, but it might be to impress it on the aspirants on the need for rancour-free contest. Investigations by New Telegraph revealed that Adeniran is most favoured among all the aspirants.

“We have looked at all the people who want to be the National Chairman of our party and I can tell you that most people prefer Prof. Adeniran. Not that the other persons are not good or they are not qualified, but we looked at so many factors. “Number one is that Prof. Adeniran is not facing any corruption charge. Yes, there are some others in the race who are not on trial, but Prof. Adeniran’s case is different.

“He is a gentleman and he has experience. Prof. Adeniran is not a controversial person, and he is always ready to listen to people,” a member of the party volunteered. The source further revealed that before the party stakeholders finally zeroed in on Adeniran, Daniel was also a serious contender. According to him, Daniel failed the integrity test because he is still facing corruption trial at the court brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “We don’t want a National Chairman who will be distracted by the court.

The way things are going, we’re going to witness more political persecution from the All Progressives Congress (APC) government now that we are approaching the general elections. “So we cannot afford to give the APC the opportunity to brand our party corrupt simply because our National Chairman is standing trial. It will be a great embarrassment to the party,” he added..........

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Good for them