How APC’s power ‘shift’ to South tasks search for Atiku’s running mate

It was not only within the camp of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) that President Muhammadu Buhari’s dinner with the party’s presidential contenders commanded great attention. The nation was on edge, because the outcome of the meeting, given the tension that was mounting over the President’s desire to be supported to throw up his successor.

For the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the business of last Saturday night would have far-reaching implications for its plans to clinch the 2023 Presidential poll, particularly the issue of where Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s running mate could be selected.

Prior to the President’s dinner, PDP leaders were looking at three probable scenarios: First, the opposition party expected that with Atiku’s emergence as PDP’s standard bearer, APC would follow the same route by throwing up a northern candidate, possibly from same Northeast geopolitical zone as the former Vice President.

Then, based on popular intelligence, Atiku’s men were confident that the ruling party’s candidate would be from Southwest geopolitical zone, where three potential aspirants, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Kayode Fayemi and the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, were being considered.

The third leg of PDP’s projections was the likelihood of a South/South or Southeast contender like Chibuike Amaechi and Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, an associate of late Chuba Okadigbo, being on the boxes.

General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (retd), who replicated the role he played in the emergence of Atiku as PDP’s standard bearer at the 2018 Port Harcourt special convention, was placed at the driver’s seat in the search of an acceptable running mate for the PDP candidate.

Assisted by Atiku’s 2007 running mate, Senator Ben Obi, the template of the small committee was to ensure that the mistake of 2019, when Atiku spurned the advice of northern leaders to unilaterally choose Mr. Peter Obi was not repeated.

PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, Senator Walid Jubril, had, in a chat, told The Guardian how Atiku’s election as the party’s presidential candidate came as a big success and a good omen for all Nigerians.

He said the reality of Atiku’s presence on the presidential ballot in 2023 has opened a good way for all Nigerians to elect their President, stressing that the party was striving to ensure inclusion and balance on the ticket. Regretting that Atiku and PDP were sabotaged in 2019 by the ruling party through unholy methods, the BoT chairman said the party was prepared to speak with one voice.

Dr. Jibrin assured that the BoT would assist the party and the Waziri Adamawa to come out with a very acceptable Vice President from southern Nigeria, even as he expressed relief that Atiku is neither a tribal president nor religious bigot.

However, despite the BoT chairman’s optimism, there is no doubt that APC’s decision to go South in search of its presidential nominee has brought about fresh challenges for PDP’s hunt for who to pair up with Atiku on the presidential ballot for next year’s poll. While some party chieftains maintain that Atiku’s best bet is to pick a deputy from Southeast or South/south, the former Vice President seems to be looking at Enugu rather than Anambra State, following Obi’s surprise careening to Labour Party (LP).

It was gathered that no sooner than it became apparent that Southeast was being considered that some political actors started flying the kite of a possible selection of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and brief Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha.

Sources close to the search committee hinted that the need for a federal lawmaker to pair up with Atiku was ostensibly to ensure that the usual friction between the executive and legislature does not occur during Atiku’s term.

The Guardian gathered that the move to get a Southeast running mate influenced the decision by the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, to abandon his aspiration to govern Enugu State.

However, while the former Deputy Senate President, who had finalised plans to pick the Labour Party (LP) governorship ticket, was relishing the likelihood of positive consideration, many influential Southeast leaders reached out to the former Vice President on behalf of former Enugu State governor, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani.

Those who tipped Senator Nnamani for the running mate position contend that his blend of executive and legislative experiences, particularly his cult following in Enugu State, where his political grouping has been grooming new leaders, puts him as a perfect fit to balance the Atiku ticket.

They maintain that whoever has become anything politically in Enugu State, including successive state governors and Ekweremadu had been by virtue of the Medical Doctor-turned politician’s political grouping known as Ebeano (the place to be).

Nnamani, who returned from his medical practice in US, not only won the 1999 governorship poll in Enugu, but also refocused the politics of the state by fighting off political godfather and delivering on his mandate with impactful projects that make him the toast of the masses.

The Gusau-led committee is said to be looking for a popular mobiliser with capacity and experience to influence Southeast voters with his/her track record of performance in public office.

Since 1999, Enugu remains the only state in Southeast that has been consistently voting PDP. As such, with Imo and Ebonyi under APC, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, who participated in the PDP presidential primary, seems to be circumscribed just like Ekweremadu need to come up with better argument on why it should be them. Anyim’s legislative experience speaks very well for him, same with Ekweremadu.

In his sudden abandonment of his governorship chase, Ekweremadu had, in a bid to redound his membership of PDP, released a statement titled: “Time to Unite” and congratulated the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Peter Mbah.

Part of the letter read: “In the last two years, we set out to run for the governorship of Enugu State. Our mission was to change the narrative in the governance of our state and possibly inspire other states in the delivery of impressive governance.

“Our hope was that this would lead to a total recalibration of governance in Nigeria with Enugu State as a starting point and model. Within the period, we set up a platform with a grassroots base. We named it Oganiru Ndi Enugu. It was duly registered. We received 77 support groups, which showed uncommon support to our mission.”

But, coming just within hours after the state chapter of APC disclosed that he was pressuring the party’s leaders in Abuja to be accommodated as the party’s governorship contender, Ekweremadu’s decision was seen as a strategic move to position himself.

This is just as supporters of Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, push for his adoption as the Vice Presidential candidate, especially following his performance during the presidential straw poll. The Guardian gathered that Wike is being opposed by the same influential political leaders of the North, who mobilised forces to ensure Atiku’s emergence.

It is not clear yet if Wike will accept to be vice president, since the presidency was his main target. But his men are pushing for a befitting position for the dogged fighter.

Although Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel’s name is also being mentioned, his low national name recognition and clout is said to be working against him. Delta governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has discharged himself very well in various national assignments and is well regarded for a higher office. But he is saddled by his contention with the political godfather of his state, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, who is said to be close to Atiku.

Not that alone, South/South is said not to be very high on the pecking order for Atiku’s running mate as sentiments are more in favour of Southeast.

The Guardian gathered that action on the selection of PDP’s vice presidential candidate has been stalled following the inconclusive meeting between President Buhari and APC governors, who were asked to “talk among yourselves and give me a consensus candidate on Monday.”

While Southwest stakeholders are said to be trying to chisel out a consensus among Prof. Osinbajo, Fayemi and Tinubu. A former governor told The Guardian that President Buhari has already succeeded in what he wants to do, stressing that if the South fails to reach a consensus, “we would go to the Eagle Square and elect whoever the President wants.”

However, congratulating northern APC governors and leaders for ceding the Presidential ticket to the South, Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said the governing party has raised the banner of national unity aloft.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Okechukwu said, “By this singular uncommon patriotic gesture, and principled response to building nationhood, the APC governors and leaders from the north have thoroughly shamed the leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who out of desperation for power attempted to harvest from ethno-religious fault lines in our polity.”

He maintained that by agreeing to rightfully rotate power to the South, the northern leaders have upheld the progressive bent of APC, thereby exposing the perfidy and corrupt tendencies of PDP.

“I am very elated. I commend APC Governors and political leaders of Northern belt for their profound patriotic statement, which aligns with the Mr President’s idea of consensus.”