According to a source, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decided to trim its presidential candidates from 15 to just three ahead of the party’s primaries.
The presidential primaries of the largest opposition party are set for May 28 and 29 at Eagles Square in Abuja, according to Anaedoonline.ng.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, media mogul Dele Momodu, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, and others are among those running for the parties Presidential ticket.
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Unlike the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has had close to 30 people express interest in succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari, the PDP has completed formalities on who will run in the primaries after a panel led by former Senate President David Mark successfully screened the candidates.
According to Newsmen, the PDP leadership is considering a presidential candidate from the North as a means of retaliation for what the APC did in 2015.
However, it has been suggested that the seeming preference for a Northern candidate may have harmed the chances of Southern contenders like as Anyim, Obi, Wike, Emmanuel, Momodu, Ohuabunwa, and others.
“Another non-presidential aspirant said to be high in consideration as possible feature in the presidential ticket is Ifeanyi Okowa.
“The Delta State governor is seen to be well loved and has preserved himself for future top post by not joining the presidential race.
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“Right now, in top PDP circles, Atiku and Saraki are seen as the leading presidential aspirants from the North, while in the South, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, whose pocket is the deepest among the aspirants is also being considered. Wike has emerged as the biggest spender in the party.
“Wike’s strength is just the money that he has and is deploying to get people to listen to him or to buy support.
“While the leaders are not comfortable with Wike and are not ready to trust him with the ticket, they believe he has to be factored into the consideration for the convention or primaries.
“The elders believe that as at today, the PDP has three leading aspirants, one of whom will emerge.
“They are Atiku, Saraki (both from the North) and Wike. They believe the three men are the ones they have to make up their mind on who to back and sell to the super delegates who will then spread the message down to the other delegates.
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“As at today, the three men are the leading aspirants in terms of their reach, acceptance, name recognition, exhaustive campaign and influence among delegates.
“The leaders also believe the three men are the ones the undecided delegates are thinking about making up their minds on what to do and where to vote.
“The delegates should have the next 18 days to make up their mind and decide which of the three men that will fly the flag of the party,” he said.
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