Major Crisis Brews In PDP As Jonathan, Govs Set To Clash Over Guber, National Assembly Candidates

Ahead of the November 29 governorship primaries, a major crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Daily Sun can authori­tatively reveal.

Indications emerged at the weekend that a clash of interests over governor­ship tickets between the Presidency and the PDP governors is imminent.

A top member of the PDP told Daily Sun that for strategic reasons, the Presidency is interested in some states and would like its preferred candidates to emerge in such states. This devel­opment, it was gathered, is not going down well with PDP governors, who are united in their determination to ensure that they not only call the shots in their states but also choose their successors.

With fears that the Presidency will interfere with their interests, PDP governors, it was gathered, have now made the Presidential Villa their second home, as they make efforts to impress President Goodluck Jonathan with their reasons for supporting some aspirants.

It was learnt that the governors have reached a gentleman’s agreement to be united in their quest to be in charge of political structures in their states.

Our source said in the event that President Jonathan insists on having his way, the governors are planning to fight back with a threat of withdrawing their support for his ambition in 2015.

A source stated: “Some hawks in the Presidency are bent on making Jonathan influence what happens in some states but they forget that the governors will also help the president to win his second term.”

“All the PDP governors are ready to do everything within their powers to ensure that Jonathan has a smooth ride in the presidential election but they also expect him to allow them some level of freedom in their states. Of course, nobody should underrate the powers of the governors in influencing the second term ambition of Jonathan.”

Daily Sun also gathered that a major area of conflict that may arise is President Jonathan’s purported interest in the return of some principal officers of the National Assembly in 2015.

Our source stated that key members of the National Assembly are making underground moves to influence Jonathan to ensure their emergence in the party primaries of the PDP.

It was learnt that the Presidency is already toying with the option of allowing the governors a free hand in choosing their successors but would like to secure commit­ment for the return of some of the principal officers of the National Assembly.

Our source told Daily Sun that it would also be a major area of conflict, as the governors would not want their political rivals to get tickets that would make them remain relevant after they might have left office in 2015.

 ---Report by Willy Eya of the Sun---