It is believed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, are both oppose to the emergence of another former Senate President, David Mark, as national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A reportedly reliable member of the party revealed this to reporters recently.
Notable leaders of the party including the PDP-Governors Forum and the Board of Trustees, were said to have endorsed Mark for the position, except the two-party chieftains.
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However, Atiku Abubakar and Saraki both prefer a candidate from the North West.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday in Abuja, the party source who pleaded to remain anonymous, said “Politics is about interests either personal or collective.
“It is public knowledge that both Atiku and Saraki, have Presidential ambitions. A David Mark emerging as National Chairman is likely to alter their calculations.
“For Atiku, Mark is seen as too strong-willed and will be uncompromising. For Saraki, a Mark coming from the same north-central zone may not work in his favour because it will mean the remaining two zones, the North East and the North West will be the only ones in contention for the Presidential ticket.
“They had both worked hard to make the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuayi-led zoning committee to throw open the chairmanship position in their recommendations, but it didn’t quite work out.
“What Mark has going for him is apart from his personal attributes have led the Senate without any major rancour for eight straight years, he has remained with the party since inception,” the source reportedly noted.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, is said to be soliciting support for another Benue son, former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu, to emerge as the National leader of the party.
However, when contacted on the national leader selection puzzle, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, said, “Everybody knows the Waziri Adamawa is a committed democrat and will, as always, respect the sanctity of the ballot.
“The position was zoned to the north and no individual can determine who becomes chairman, it will require a consensus among party members from the zone.
“The former Vice President as an experienced democrat remains committed ensuring that the party gets the best person to lead the party to victory.”
Speaking on behalf of Ortom, his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, said, “His Excellency, the Governor of Benue State, is a team player, he is working with his colleague governors and other party stakeholders to ensure that the best man for the job gets it.
“He, like all loyal party members wants a national chairman who can lead the party to victory. If Benue State gets the privilege to provide this leadership, our party and Nigeria will be the better for it.”
Several attempts were made to get a response from Saraki on the development but all were futile as even his Media Adviser, Yusuf Olaniyonu could not respond to his calls as at the time this report was obtained.