Joseph Bakare
Feared that deluge of aspirants eyeing the presidency in the coming general elections, the Board of Trustees, BOT, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has barred its members from campaigning for any of its presidential aspirants.
The BOT is also contemplating trimming down the number of aspirants To a manageable number.
The party presently has about 13 aspirants jostling for its sole presidential ticket.
The aspirants are a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; a former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo and a former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa.
Also in the race are a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki (SAN); a former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; a former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau; a former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang and Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, amongst others.
The BoT took the decision not to back any of the aspirants at its meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
Chairman of the Board, Senator Walid Jibrin, who spoke with journalists after the meeting, also said that the Board would look at the possibility of pruning the number of the aspirants.
He said that the BoT would set up a committee that would look into it, but added that none of the aspirants would be forced to step down.
He said, “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.
“Anyone of us who move about with any aspirant should resign from the BoT. We are the one that will settle the complaint.
“But if we are involved it will not be fair. So we have told the members not to campaign with the aspirants; we are also the delegates.”