PRESIDENCY BEGINS SEARCH FOR NEW PDP CHAIRMAN

By NBF News

Sources in the presidency and the party told Vanguard yesterday that due to the persistent problems between the party chairman and his state governor, where the governor and state governor are from the same party, the presidency is looking at a neutral state where the chairman would not be disturbed by the problems with his governor.

The presidency source who does not want his name mentioned because he is not authorized to speak on the matter, said 'the president is looking at somebody that has a national standing and has vast experience in public administration and national governance.

'What the presidency is looking at is a chairman in the mould of Chief Solomon Lar who was experienced and commanded respect from every party man. From what happened recently, it's obvious that we cannot afford to give the chairmanship to people that would be distracted by the politics of their home states.

This is an election year and we must avoid the mistakes of the past,' the source said.

Vanguard gathered that in view of the reluctance of most governors from the South East to publicly endorse any of the candidates being proposed, the presidency is looking at Anambra State as producing the next chairman as a way of positioning the state favourably when the governorship elections would be conducted in 2014.

'There are multiple advantages that could be derived from having a chairman from Anambra. He would galvanise the disparate forces in the state and position the party in the state for the next elections. He would not be encumbered by the challenge of an incumbent governor and he would not be under pressure. All these factors are being considered,' the source added.

Vanguard could not independently confirm this as several phone calls to the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Communications, Mr Ima Niboro, went unanswered and text messages sent to his telephone number were not replied.

S-East, North intensify lobby
Meanwhile, an intense lobbying has ensued between members of the party from the South-East and Northern part of the country on which zone should produce the chairman in the run up to the elections.

While some party members from the South East believe that the zone should produce the chairman to complete the tenure of Dr Nwodo, some members of the party are arguing that the acting chairman should be left to conduct the elections as a way of placating some people in the north.

A member of the senate from Katsina State told Vanguard that 'we in the north will resist any attempt to strip us of relevance in the party. Since the South East is not ready to lead the party, the Acting Chairman should be left alone to conduct the next elections after which we have to sit down and decide on the next step and actions.'