PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus (photo credit: Premium Times)
The Board of Trustees of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday barred its members from campaigning for any of the party’s 13 presidential aspirants.
The PDP BoT took this stance at its meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
Political gladiators seeking the party’s nod to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto.
Others are former governor of Kano Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; Gombe governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and ex-governor of Kaduna Ahmed Makarfi.
The others include former Sokoto governor Attahiru Bafarawa; former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations Kabiru Turaki (SAN); former Kano governor Ibrahim Shekarau; ex-Plateau governor Jonah Jang.
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Chairman of the Board, Senator Walid Jibrin, also stated that the Board considered pruning the number of the aspirants.
His words, “The BoT deliberated on the current situation in the party. We also discussed about the number of our presidential aspirants.
“We are recommending that we have to manage the situation very well, so that it does not lead to crisis. The presidential aspirants are 13. We are trying our best to ensure that the number is reduced.
“But we are not forcing anybody. More consultations are ongoing among the elders. We are going to bring out a committee that will be best for Nigerians.
“We are forming a committee to meet with the aspirants. After that, we will decide on what to do. We have decided to firm a special committee to advise the National Working Committee.
“If you are a member of BoT, you remain as a member of BoT and conscience of the party. They should not move about with any aspirant.
“If we are really the conscience of the party, we should not move about with aspirants. That was what happened during the last national convention when we elected the national chairman.
“Some of us went and pitch camp with aspirants, taking them all over the place. This time, we will not allow that to happen.”