PDP screens candidates for National Chairman

ben adhoc

February 16, 2016 1:49 PM

Basically, the two governors of the North East today briefed us on what they have done and they brought five people for consideration.

Olisa Metuh- Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Chief Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says nine candidates from the North East zone are presently being screened for the position of the party’s national chairman.

Metuh said this while addressing newsmen on the outcome of PDP national caucus meeting at the Ondo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, which ended in the early hours of Tuesday.

He said five out of the nine names were submitted to the caucus meeting by PDP leaders from the north east.The candidates whose names were submitted, according to Metuh, included Wilberforce Juta, Saidu Kumo, Alhaji Girgir Lawal and Shehu Gabam.

"Basically, the two governors of the North East today briefed us on what they have done and they brought five people for consideration.

"These include Amb. Wilberforce Juta, Sen. Kumo, Sen. Girgir, Shehu Gabam, and one other person.

"We looked at the list and decided to enlarge the list. So, we have invited some other leaders from that zone,’’ Metuh said.

Metuh listed the invited leaders as former governor Ali Modu-Sheriff, Sen. Muhammed Wakil and Malam Nuhu Ribadu.He said that the national caucus wanted to ensure that the name of one or two candidates was presented to the party’s Board of Trustees and the National Executive Council (NEC) for onward consideration and ratification.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Alhaji Adamu Muazu had in May 2015 resigned his position as chairman of the party following pressure from party leaders, stakeholders and supporters of the party.

Following the resignation of Muazu, the then Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, became the acting national chairman of the party.

It would also be recalled that Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, a former Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs to former president Goodluck Jonathan, had sought a court injunction stopping Secondus from acting as chairman.

The FCT High Court also called on the party to appoint a member from the North East zone to complete Muazu’s tenure.

ben adhoc