Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have decided not to support any particular candidate at the national convention of the party on Saturday.
Multiple sources in the know about the outcome of a meeting held at Government House in Port Harcourt noted that the governors asked all delegates to go and vote for candidates of their choice
“They have just met, and there was no consensus on any candidate” the source told revealed to Premium Times as he emerged from the meeting at 12:09 a.m. Saturday. “The delegates are now free to choose whoever they want.”
The decision could prove essential in a race largely considered too close to call even hours to its commencement.
There have been doubts that all the twelve PDP governors may rally behind a candidate. Seeing the intimidating influence the governors wield over party affairs, political pundits believe whoever they endorse to easily coast to victory.
Two PDP governors are in the race, with sources stating that the remaining 10 governors felt it would be wrong to be openly partisan towards one of them.
But with delegates now being asked to go and vote independently without being instructed by the governors, who often play the role of custodian of delegates, the ferocious competition already witnessed in the weeks leading up to the primaries may get even more intense well into the last minute.
Even though these governors have their individual preference among the aspirants, the decision to let delegates be free to make their choice could mean there would be more delegates to lobby for aspirants.
At least 4,000 delegates are expected to partake in the primaries, according to party officials. They have been arriving in town since Wednesday, and the last set would arrive by morning on Saturday.
Two of the aspirants, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe, publicly denied planning to step down for any candidate.
The 12 candidates in the race are: Atiku Abubakar, Ahmed Makarfi, Aminu Tambuwal, Datti Baba-Ahmed, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, Bukola Saraki, David Mark, Jonah Jang, Kabiru Turaki and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
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