2027: Micro-zoning stirs tension in PDP

…Opposition’s prospects brighten arsenic INEC recognises David Mark-led ADC

…Jonathan, Kwankwaso deepen negotiations

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor, Omeiza Ajayi & Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — Confusion implicit micro-zoning of cardinal offices successful the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has unsettled members and heightened interior tensions arsenic the enactment struggles to hold connected however to stock enactment positions, up of its November nationalist normal and the 2027 wide polls.

Indeed, the enactment is facing interior tensions aft stakeholders successful Lagos and Osun states rejected its zoning look and declared enactment for concern leader, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, arsenic their preferred statesmanlike candidate.

Meanwhile, prospects of coalition-backed African Democratic Congress, ADC, successful the build-up to the 2027 wide elections brightened yesterday, with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s, authoritative designation of erstwhile Senate President, Senator David Mark, arsenic nationalist president of the party.

The recognition, aft a play of aggravated quality and procedural delays that had near the enactment divided, has ended weeks of uncertainty implicit ADC’s enactment and positioned it for greater information successful absorption conjugation talks up of the 2027 polls.

Vanguard confirmed the improvement yesterday, aft accessing INEC’s authoritative website, wherever David Mark’s sanction and those of different cardinal officials were listed arsenic duly recognised leaders of the ADC.

The designation came arsenic the camps of erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan and the 2023 statesmanlike campaigner of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Dr. Musa Kwankwaso, deepened collaboration talks that whitethorn pb to collapsing their structures and moving unneurotic for the intent of returning to the Aso Rock Villa.

It was learned past nighttime that some governmental camps person been holding regular consultations, with a presumption to fine-tuning strategies and arriving astatine a communal position, up of the adjacent election.

Micro-zoning hostility successful PDP

In the PDP, deficiency of clarity connected micro-zoning, the process of allocating apical positions among circumstantial geo-political zones oregon states, has near enactment leaders and aspirants unsure of their chances, fueling aggravated lobbying and behind-the-scenes manoeuvring by competing factions.

Multiple sources confirmed to Vanguard that consultations were ongoing astatine some authorities and zonal levels, with respective influential figures travelling crossed the state to drum up enactment for preferred aspirants.

“Consultations are ongoing. We’ll cognize much erstwhile a definite determination is taken connected micro-zoning during the party’s 103rd NEC gathering connected October 15. By then, we should person a wide direction,” PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, explained.

Battle for nationalist chairmanship

At the bosom of the tussle is the presumption of nationalist chairman, wide regarded arsenic the astir strategical bureau successful PDP’s structure.

The presumption is expected to play a pivotal relation successful shaping the party’s statesmanlike run machinery and determining however candidates volition look for the 2027 elections.

Several names person already surfaced successful discussions, including erstwhile Kano State governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; erstwhile Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, and Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim from Kwara State. Each is backed by antithetic blocs seeking to power the party’s aboriginal direction.

A chieftain of the party, aligned with the influential G-5 radical of ex-governors, confirmed to Vanguard that nary last determination had been reached connected micro-zoning.

Asked if a steadfast determination had been made, helium said: “No. Positions person not been micro-zoned yet. On a idiosyncratic note, my person (Ortom) has besides decided to propulsion his chapeau successful the ringing for nationalist chairmanship position, truthful I person stood down my bid for the aforesaid position.”

A elder enactment member, who has been progressive successful the ongoing consultations, revealed that helium had been travelling crossed antithetic states to physique alliances, up of immoderate eventual micro-zoning announcement.

“I’ve already started. I’ve been to astir 8 states truthful far. It’s not conscionable my ambition, it’s als...