PDP reportedly shortlists 6 politicians for 2019 presidential elections (List) - 13
- PDP has reportedly shortlisted 6 politicians for 2019 presidential
elections
- The former ruling party is also said to be targeting APC governors
and senators for Presidency
- The former vice president Atiku Abubakar is said to have a better
chance among the PDP contenders
Ahead of 2019 general elections, the leadership of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly banking on seven people to
challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential
contest.
New Telegraph reports that the PDP’s plan is in place whether or
not President Muhammadu Buhari is going to seek re-election in
the poll scheduled to hold on February 16, 2019.
READ ALSO: 8 Edo Libyan returnees die in road accident on their
way to pastor T.B Joshua to seek spiritual help
NAIJ.com gathered that New Telegraph was reliably informed by
high ranking sources within the main opposition party that the
PDP is banking on the candidacy of five of its members and two
others expected to come from the APC.
The two APC stalwarts expected to join the PDP are a former
Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and a
serving northern governor.
“The PDP is working on one of the APC governors as its
presidential candidate.
The governor has a broad-based support and acceptable to many
of the PDP governors and stakeholders.
“I can tell you that some powerful forces in the opposition party
are rooting for the APC governor as the possible presidential
candidate of the PDP in 2019 election,” a stalwart of the PDP told
New Telegraph.
The PDP members, who are expected to run for the Presidency
are:
1. The former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
2. A former Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido
3. A former Governor of Kaduna state and immediate past
chairman of the national caretaker committee of PDP, Senator
Ahmed Makarfi
4. A former Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau
5. The Governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwambo
6. A former governor of Kano, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso
An official of the PDP said that the party was banking on the
candidacy of the seven people, irrespective of whether Buhari
runs or not.
It was gathered that Atiku currently ranks highest in the party’s
consideration, with Dankwambo, Makarfi, Shekarau and Lamido
following.
That is based on the fact that Kwankwaso and the governor have
not formally defected.
“For now, these are the seven candidates we are working with. We
may eventually prune them down to only two when the time comes.
“But that would not happen by fiat. It would just be for the
candidates to come out in the open, make themselves visible to the
people. We will look at their acceptability and know which
direction we would go,” he said.
On Kwankwaso and the governor, the official said: “Do you think
that many people are in APC with their full hearts? Some are just
staying there for now.”
It was further learnt that while many in the party consider Atiku
as the most formidable, many also think that considering his age
and the likely opposition to his candidacy by some major power
brokers in the country, chief of who is former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, there is need for caution. “Atiku, for now, is our
strongest card.
But you know what former President Goodluck Jonathan said
about him, that he needed to sort himself out with Obasanjo. That
is the only problem he has. Except he decides to jettison
Obasanjo, it might be hard to give him the ticket,” the source told
New Telegraph.
But Atiku is said to be at peace with the National Working
Committee (NWC) of the PDP led by the National Chairman,
Prince Uche Secondus.
Previously, it was thought that Secondus and his crew might not
want to dine with Atiku, particularly after the Jonathan
counseling.
But sources close to Atiku insisted that he has a close relationship
with former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who is a major
influence on the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Wike is, by extension, a major influence on Secondus.
“We are not worried by the NWC for now. We have a good
working relationship with them. They would not work against
us,” said a source in Atiku’s camp.
Further, it was gathered that much as Atiku may not seek or get
Obasanjo’s seal to run for the presidency, there is an
understanding Atiku and Obasanjo would maintain respectable
distance.
“We believe that if Obasanjo would not support us, he should leave
us. He should not criticize us. We will not mention him in our
campaign,” said a source close to the Atiku’s camp.
New Telegraph also gathered that Lamido, being an Obasanjo
man, would have directly benefitted from Atiku’s misfortune with
Obasanjo.
But there is a strong feeling that his case with the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) might hamper his chances
with the party. A top PDP official said that the thinking within the
party is that the APCled Federal Government would continue to
harass Lamido with the case, as far as he appears a strong
candidate.
The source said that Lamido’s chances would have been high if
not for the case. But Lamido is not deterred by the case himself.
He is currently consulting widely in pursuance of his ambition. It
is also only Atiku, Shekarau and Lamido that have clearly
indicated their interest openly. Lamido is currently touring some
states in the country.
He is expected in Enugu today (Monday), where he would confer
with the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on the presidential
race.
Lamido is also moving further to other states to secure the
support base he needs. Dankwambo was recently mentioned by
fiery Enugu- based Catholic priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, as a
man who can replace Buhari.
elections
- The former ruling party is also said to be targeting APC governors
and senators for Presidency
- The former vice president Atiku Abubakar is said to have a better
chance among the PDP contenders
Ahead of 2019 general elections, the leadership of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) is reportedly banking on seven people to
challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential
contest.
New Telegraph reports that the PDP’s plan is in place whether or
not President Muhammadu Buhari is going to seek re-election in
the poll scheduled to hold on February 16, 2019.
READ ALSO: 8 Edo Libyan returnees die in road accident on their
way to pastor T.B Joshua to seek spiritual help
NAIJ.com gathered that New Telegraph was reliably informed by
high ranking sources within the main opposition party that the
PDP is banking on the candidacy of five of its members and two
others expected to come from the APC.
The two APC stalwarts expected to join the PDP are a former
Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and a
serving northern governor.
“The PDP is working on one of the APC governors as its
presidential candidate.
The governor has a broad-based support and acceptable to many
of the PDP governors and stakeholders.
“I can tell you that some powerful forces in the opposition party
are rooting for the APC governor as the possible presidential
candidate of the PDP in 2019 election,” a stalwart of the PDP told
New Telegraph.
The PDP members, who are expected to run for the Presidency
are:
1. The former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
2. A former Governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido
3. A former Governor of Kaduna state and immediate past
chairman of the national caretaker committee of PDP, Senator
Ahmed Makarfi
4. A former Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau
5. The Governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwambo
6. A former governor of Kano, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso
An official of the PDP said that the party was banking on the
candidacy of the seven people, irrespective of whether Buhari
runs or not.
It was gathered that Atiku currently ranks highest in the party’s
consideration, with Dankwambo, Makarfi, Shekarau and Lamido
following.
That is based on the fact that Kwankwaso and the governor have
not formally defected.
“For now, these are the seven candidates we are working with. We
may eventually prune them down to only two when the time comes.
“But that would not happen by fiat. It would just be for the
candidates to come out in the open, make themselves visible to the
people. We will look at their acceptability and know which
direction we would go,” he said.
On Kwankwaso and the governor, the official said: “Do you think
that many people are in APC with their full hearts? Some are just
staying there for now.”
It was further learnt that while many in the party consider Atiku
as the most formidable, many also think that considering his age
and the likely opposition to his candidacy by some major power
brokers in the country, chief of who is former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, there is need for caution. “Atiku, for now, is our
strongest card.
But you know what former President Goodluck Jonathan said
about him, that he needed to sort himself out with Obasanjo. That
is the only problem he has. Except he decides to jettison
Obasanjo, it might be hard to give him the ticket,” the source told
New Telegraph.
But Atiku is said to be at peace with the National Working
Committee (NWC) of the PDP led by the National Chairman,
Prince Uche Secondus.
Previously, it was thought that Secondus and his crew might not
want to dine with Atiku, particularly after the Jonathan
counseling.
But sources close to Atiku insisted that he has a close relationship
with former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who is a major
influence on the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike.
Wike is, by extension, a major influence on Secondus.
“We are not worried by the NWC for now. We have a good
working relationship with them. They would not work against
us,” said a source in Atiku’s camp.
Further, it was gathered that much as Atiku may not seek or get
Obasanjo’s seal to run for the presidency, there is an
understanding Atiku and Obasanjo would maintain respectable
distance.
“We believe that if Obasanjo would not support us, he should leave
us. He should not criticize us. We will not mention him in our
campaign,” said a source close to the Atiku’s camp.
New Telegraph also gathered that Lamido, being an Obasanjo
man, would have directly benefitted from Atiku’s misfortune with
Obasanjo.
But there is a strong feeling that his case with the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) might hamper his chances
with the party. A top PDP official said that the thinking within the
party is that the APCled Federal Government would continue to
harass Lamido with the case, as far as he appears a strong
candidate.
The source said that Lamido’s chances would have been high if
not for the case. But Lamido is not deterred by the case himself.
He is currently consulting widely in pursuance of his ambition. It
is also only Atiku, Shekarau and Lamido that have clearly
indicated their interest openly. Lamido is currently touring some
states in the country.
He is expected in Enugu today (Monday), where he would confer
with the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on the presidential
race.
Lamido is also moving further to other states to secure the
support base he needs. Dankwambo was recently mentioned by
fiery Enugu- based Catholic priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, as a
man who can replace Buhari.
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