The Northern leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party rose from its meeting in Minna, Niger State yesterday and announced the former senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki and the governor of Bauchi State, Mr. Bala Mohammed as the consensus candidates ahead of the party’s May 28 presidential primaries.
In a communiqué signed by former vice chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, the Northern leaders said Saraki and Mohammed were selected based on certain criteria in the assessment of the four aspirants who submitted themselves for the exercise.
“For the purpose of this exercise, it is hereby resolved that Gov. Bala Mohammad from the North-East and former Senate President Bukola Saraki from the North-Central be presented as the Northern consensus candidates for the moment.
“It was resolved that a leading aspirant from the North-Central and one from the North-East are to be presented as Northern Presidential candidates.
“The two would in turn be required to make further concessions so that in the end, one of them would be presented as the consensus candidate, out of the four that presented themselves from the North.
“It should be recalled that four major Presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have met and decided to limit the number of aspirants from Northern Nigeria by forming a consensus among themselves. The candidates that presented themselves for the consensus are Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Gov. Bala Mohammed, Dr Bukola Saraki and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
“This was indeed a commendable development and huge sacrifice for the love of country and the northern region in particular on the part of the four aspirants. Consequently, all the four aspirants visited the former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and gave him the mandate to lead the process for a consensus and agreed to abide by the outcome of the decision.
“The former President encouraged the aspirants to have a resolution within themselves and come up with one candidate, which they reported back to him after some days and asked him to go ahead and pick one out of the four.
“General Babangida on his part opted for inclusion, through wider consultation and assigned me to design criteria and carry out the necessary consultations with elders and leaders across the three geo-political zones of the North,” the communiqué stated.
It further stressed that the opinions of six distinguished persons each from the three geo-political zones were sought with regard to each of the four aspirants.
“Each of the zonal delegates was allocated two votes to choose the first and second choice making a total of 36 votes overall.”
“At the end of this phase, Saraki and Gov. Mohammed scored 10 votes each while Tambuwal and Hayatu-Deen got 7 and 5 votes respectively.
“One of the elders deferred his votes on grounds of continuing consultations with traditional rulers and other major stakeholders. Two members did not cast their second ballots bringing the total to 32 votes cast out of 36,” it added.
In phase two (zonal assessment), the communiqué stated that Saraki got 8 votes; Mohammed and Aminu Tambuwal, seven and two votes respectively and Hayatu-Deen, no votes.
The statement added: “In the end, the resort was made to the historical antecedents of the PDP with regards to previous northern aspiration and the following conclusion was reached:
“That the northwest has had the opportunity of contesting and even forming government in 2007.
“In 2011, a consensus was made among the four northern candidates, which northeast got but lost at the primaries. In 2019, it got the slot again though the party could not form the government.
“The north central has not had a single opportunity to get the PDP ticket since the inception of the current fourth republic.”
Atiku not party to endorsement – Campaign organistion
The Technical Committee for the Actualization of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidency in 2023 has reacted to the northern PDP elders saying its principal was never a party to the consensus arrangement.
Chairman of the committee, Dr Raymond Dokpesi said in a statement that Atiku does not support any form of consensus arrangement.
The statement reads: The Technical Committee for the Actualisation of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidency in 2023, has been inundated with several calls and text messages from concerned party members, supporters and other critical stakeholders on the purported report of Consensus efforts amongst four aspirants of northern extraction within the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Prof Ango Abdullahi CON, Magajin Rafin Zazzau released this purported report at a press conference in Minna on Friday, April 22, 2022. According to the purported report, the following aspirants presented themselves for the said exercise:
1. Governor Aminu Tambuwwal
2. Governor Bala Mohammed
3. Dr Bukola Saraki
4. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen
“It must be stated categorically and equivocally that:
“Waziri Atiku Abubakar MA, GCON Vice President Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999-2007 was NEVER a part of this purported consensus arrangement, neither did he at any time nor in any place, subject himself to any purported consensus process. Therefore, Waziri Atiku Abubakar is NOT BOUND by any of the recommendations and conclusions of the purported report.
“As an avowed nationalist, Waziri Atiku Abubakar strongly believes that Nigeria has never been as divided as it is today. He strongly believes that any “consensus” arrangement premised on any regional, zonal, ethno-religious, and/or sectional gang-up will further deepen and widen this divide, and worsen the wounds that urgently need to be healed. Consequently, Vice President Atiku Abubakar is anxious to implement plans, policies and programmes that will rescue and rebuild Nigeria. This is his unwavering and resolute pledge and commitment.
“Finally, as our great party, the PDP, prepares for the presidential primaries scheduled for Saturday/ Sunday May 28 and 29, 2022, we urge all our numerous supporters to continue with consultations and town hall meetings with delegates across the country. We urge them neither to be deterred nor distracted in our collective mission to rescue our nation.”
