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One office, eight contenders – all of them from the South. Two are from the Southsouth; six are from the Southwest and none from the Southeast. They are all warming up for the intra-party poll as if it is a general election.

Who wears the crown tomorrow? Will the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remain the same after the Abuja convention? Who are the major forces backing the aspirants? Will the national congress be hitch-free? It is an anxious moment for the opposition party.

George

Chief Olabode George, a retired Commodore and former deputy national chairman, is the oldest and the most experienced contender. He is from Lagos State. George is confident, bold and brave. His major priority is to halt the trend of impunity in the opposition party and promote justice. Those backing him are Northern party elders, led by the former Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, other chieftains in the Southwest. The stalwart has been endorsed by delegates from Lagos.

Adeniran

The political scientist and former university don is from Ekiti State. He served briefly as Education Minister under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Prof. Adeniran is the candidate of senior chieftains from the North, led by Senator Jerry Gana and Senator Ibrahim Mantu. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who recently defected to the party, is also rooting for him. He has promised to restore internal democracy, if elected.

Secondus

Many believe that the race is between Adeniran and Chief Uche Secondus, the former acting chairman. Secondus is a former organising secretary and deputy national chairman of the party. He has been endorsed by the Southsouth stakeholders. Secondus has the advantage of being backed by the PDP governors, who have overwhelming influence on the majority of delegates. The governors have reiterated their opposition to the candidature of septuagenarians in the race. They are calling for generational shift. Secondus has said that he has what it takes to make the PDP regain control at the centre in 2019.

Daniel

Otunba Gbenga Daniel is the former Ogun State governor. He has been endorsed by Ogun PDP stakeholders. Daniel has traversed the six zones soliciting for support. He promised to return the party to the path of the rule of law.

Agbaje

Agbaje is perceived as a politician without a baggage. He is the former Lagos State PDP governorship candidate. Although PDP governors mounted pressures on him to obtain the deputy chairmanship form, he has insisted on serving as chairman. Agbaje has not been visible on the campaign field.

Dokpesi

Chief Raymond Dokpesi’s support base is unknown. He is popular as a media mogul. It is not certain if delegates from his native Edo State are supporting him. But, yesterday, he reaffirmed his interest in the position, saying that he is still in the race.

Adedoja

Prof. Taoheed Adedoja hails from Oyo State. He is a former Provost, College of Education (Special), Oyo, one-time Oyo State Commissioner for Education and served as Minister of Sports and Special Duties. His support base is narrow. Those backing him are unknown.

Ladoja

Senator Rashidi Ladoja, former Oyo State governor joined the race very late. But, he has been endorsed by Oyo State chapter of the party. PDP governors have approached him to consider the option of the deputy chairman. His push for a consensus candidate from the Southwest never sailed through. However, for him, the race is not a do or die affair.

 

 

The Nation

BIG STORY

Senate Passes Bill For Ijebu State Creation For First Reading

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The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a bill for the creation of Ijebu State, marking the first reading of the proposal during its plenary session.

The bill, which seeks to establish Ijebu as an independent state, was sponsored by Senator Gbenga Daniel, representing Ogun State.

Titled the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Sixth 1 Alteration) Bill, 2024 (Creation of Ijebu State),” the proposed legislation aims to carve out Ijebu from the current Ogun State.

The bill was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Michael Bamidele of the All Progressives Congress as the “fourth order of the day” during the plenary.

After reading the title of the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio moved the proposal forward, passing it for its first reading and setting the stage for further legislative processes.

The bill will now undergo a series of discussions and evaluations before it can proceed to the next stages of approval.

The push for the creation of Ijebu State is part of a broader national discourse on the need for more state creation across Nigeria, particularly in regions where there are growing demands for administrative autonomy.

If the bill successfully progresses through the required legislative procedures, Ijebu, currently a part of Ogun State, could become a separate state with its own governance structures.

This development comes amid increasing calls for state creation in various parts of the country, with proponents arguing that new states could better address local needs, foster economic growth, and enhance political representation.

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BIG STORY

An Aspirant Gave Each Delegate $30,000 During PDP Primary In 2022 — Dele Momodu

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Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, says he regrets spending about N50 million to buy the presidential nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2022.

Momodu spoke in a recent interview on Eden Oasis, published on Sunday.

The journalist and politician said the primary was heavily monetised, with a particular aspirant doling out $30,000 to each of the 774 delegates who voted during the election.

The politician stated that he would not vie for any party’s presidential ticket unless he is adopted as a consensus candidate.

“Experience is the best teacher. I have come to realise that there are powers that you can describe as principalities that control Nigeria,” he said.

“Unless a major political party decides to adopt me — where you have a consensus of people who say Dele Momodu is best suited to change and to lead Nigeria. Then I will consider it.

“But if I have to pick my money to buy a presidential nomination form of about N100 million… I spent about N50 million to buy the form for the last one.

“N50 million would have bought me a property. It was a waste. I didn’t get even one vote because everything was monetised.

“One of the candidates paid as much as $30,000 per delegate, and we had 774 delegates.

“So, how do you want to compete with them? They have stolen the country blind and are doing all kinds of deals to make money, especially those in the oil-rich areas.

“It is not easy. You can’t compete with them. That’s why they insult Nigerians anyhow because of the amount of money available to them in raw cash. There’s no country where people buy raw cash like Nigeria.

“The bulk of their money is not in any bank. So, they are not traceable to any bank. So, they have the money. If today you say to some politicians that you need $500 million to become a president, they will find it.

“So, people like us, where will I start from?”

Momodu was one of the presidential hopefuls of the PDP at the time. He did not secure any votes during the exercise.

Atiku Abubakar clinched the presidential ticket with 371 votes to beat his closest challenger, Nyesom Wike, now minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), who polled 237 votes.

Abubakar was defeated by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election.

Bukola Saraki, former senate president, scored 70 votes; Bala Mohammed, Bauchi governor, got 20 votes; Udom Emmanuel, former governor of Akwa Ibom, secured 38 votes; while Pius Anyim, former secretary to the government of the federation, polled 14 votes.

Sam Ohuabunwa, a businessman, alongside Momodu and Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti, received zero votes.

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BIG STORY

We’ll Reintroduce Bill Seeking 6-Year Single Term For President, Governors Despite Rejection — Rep

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Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, says the push for a six-year single term for president and governors will continue despite the bill’s rejection.

The bill, which was slated for a second reading during Thursday’s plenary session, was rejected by lawmakers in the Green Chamber.

Sponsored by Ikeagwuonu from Imo State and 33 other lawmakers, the bill also sought to amend Section 3 of the Constitution to recognize the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones.

Briefing journalists on Thursday evening, the lawmaker described the rejection of the bill as a “temporary setback.”

“The struggle to reform our constitutional democracy to be all-inclusive and provide an avenue for justice, equity, and fairness has not been lost,” he said.

The lawmaker added that voting against the bill by the parliament “does not put an end to agitation and hope that we will realise this objective.”

“This is a temporary setback which does not affect the campaign for an inclusive democratic process,” he said.

The Imo lawmaker stated that the sponsors of the bill will review the decision of the House and “find possible ways of reintroducing it after following due legislative procedures.”

“All I can tell Nigerians is that we will continue the advocacy and convince our colleagues to see reason with us. If elections are held in one day, it will reduce cost and rigging,” he said.

“If power rotates, it will help deescalate political tensions, and a six-year single term will go a long way in helping elective leaders focus on delivering their democratic mandate.”

“All hope is not lost, we will continue the advocacy, and we hope that when reintroduced, our colleagues will support it.”

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