As part of last minute maneuvering, the former President of the Senate, David Mark, may emerge as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national chairman......KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE👈
Pressure has been mounting on Senator Mark by some governors, key party stakeholders and concerned members of the party for him to accept the position and stabilise the party pending the national convention when a new chairman will be elected.
Even though the former President of the Senate had rejected the offer on the excuse that the time is too short, but, it was gathered that a former President, a retired General and a former Minister of Defence have reached out to him to convince him on the need to take the position to stabilise the party.
A PDP stakeholder, who spoke on condition of anonymity, corroborated the report that some persons approached David Mark to complete the North Central tenure but two things came up.
“One, their intention was to come in and stabilise the party and to reconcile the factions but he said he was not too strong. Two, that the remaining tenure was too small to be able to do that kind of work, so I don’t know if it is still subsisting.
“Arising from their meeting in Minna with IBB, I think they just put a call across to him but I think they either invited him to Minna or so.
“They actually wanted the man to come on board but the challenges is that it’s remaining one year.”
Expressing his concern on the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for October 24, the stakeholder said, “As it is, I have feelings that the NEC meeting may not hold because even if it holds, it maybe just to adjust, to allow time because you can’t just hand over or bring up somebody. The North Central has not met; they have not met to bring up a candidate.”
Recall that the North Central zone of the party has been clamouring to complete the tenure of Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, who was sacked by the court.
Also recall that the Amb. Umar Damagum, who has been acting as the National Chairman, has refused to leave and has resorted to use the court to stop his removal.
However, this development has generated serious controversy both in the states and the national, as accusing fingers have been pointing to some persons that their target is to distabilise the party ahead of 2027.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has denied instituting any legal case in Zamfara State to ensure that the party holds its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The PDP Governors’ Forum, in a statement by its Director-General, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, said that Governor Bala Mohammed didn’t file a suit at the Federal High Court of Nigeria holden at Gusau Judicial Division seeking an ex parte order that would compel the convening of the PDP’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
“This is to emphatically state that the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and governor of Bauchi State does not in any way, either by proxy or himself, have anything to do with the said suit.
“For emphasis, our teeming supporters and all Nigerians are urged to ignore the false claim that the chairman of the Forum or any of its members instigated any legal proceedings in reference to the above.
“We wish to state that the publication is dubious, malicious and intended to smear the character of Governor Bala Mohammed.”