IN its bid to recapture power and run an all-inclusive government in 2023, frontline opposition, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has reportedly struck a last-minute power-sharing deal with the Southwest to bolster support for its presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku, in the region.
A reliable source and former top member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), squealed to NaijaTimes that the party’s presidential flag bearer, in a new arrangement of concessions, “has agreed that Southwest should produce the next Senate President.
“Also, to further give bite for a possible inroad into the Southeast, the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) has been zoned to the region.”
The new development is coming on the heels of the boycott of the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council by prominent leaders of the party from the Southwest.
Recently, the party was enmeshed in alleged financial scandal with the return of funds by some National Working Committee members.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who is the only PDP governor from the Southwest, alongside other influential leaders, had stayed away from the unveiling of the PCC which coincided with the launch of books in honour of Atiku.
According to the source, the coincidence of the two developments – the boycott of the PCC and the return of the funds, was of great concern to the party.
“To say that the issues are not disturbing is to be delusional; the coincidence was shocking and meant to destabilise us, but we will overcome.
“The national chairman had to cut short his medical leave and return so that the issues could be addressed because the development has really affected the southwest more.
“And quite frankly, Ayu, our presidential candidate and a few others have met over the weekend to review earlier power equations and permutations in order to strengthen weak areas,” the source stated.
He continued, “For instance, earlier before now, the plan was for the SGF to come to the southwest with the Speakership going to the southeast.
“But from all indications, the southeast power brokers within the party are more interested in the position of the SGF.”
“Incidentally, those of us who believe in the Atiku Presidency is of the opinion that the party must review its earlier stance of zoning the Senate President slot to the Northwest.
“So at it is now, it is the southwest that will produce the next Senate President because the earlier position of northwest would have empowered a section too much; there must be balance,” he added.
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