Fani-Kayode, Jimi Agbaje and Bode George Vie for PDP Chairmanship

Fani-Kayode, Jimi Agbaje and Bode George Vie for PDP Chairmanship

A former minister of aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode may have joined the list of persons with their eyes set on the top position in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Indications emerged on Monday that Fani-Kayode had been consulting stakeholders within the opposition party about vying for the PDP chairmanship. Equally said to be vying for the seat is similarly controversial political figure, Chief Bode George.

The Supreme Court recently laid to rest a tussle over the PDP chairmanship positionbetween former Borno state governor, Ali Modu Sheriff and Senator Ahmed Makarfi who presently heads the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

PDP sources revealed that Fani-Kayode and Bode George may be jostling for the seat with a former Lagos governorship candidate of the party, Mr Jimi Agbaje and a former Minister of Education, Prof Tunde Adeniran.

Fani-Kayode’s media aide, Jude Ndukwe, told newsmen that the former spokesman of the Jonathan/Sambo presidential campaign in 2015 was being pressured by some members of the party to vie for the PDP chairmanship.

Ndukwe added that the former minister’s to the PDP had never wavered even in the face of all the crisis that the party went through.

“We are still waiting for the zoning formula and the date of the convention. It is after all that has been agreed on that we will decide whether he will run for the national chairmanship or anything else or not.

“One thing is clear though and that is that our party needs strong leadership to take on the APC Federal Government. He has that strength and passion and he has worked very hard for the party. He has also been defending democratic values for the last two years. Meetings and consultations are still going on so let us wait and see how it all goes,” Ndukwe said.

Yet another politician from the south-west who has been tipped to contest the position is the immediate past governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko. Some PDP sources have however indicated that the south-west bloc may face a stiff opposition from the south-east caucus which is also gunning for the PDP chairmanship position.

According to the Punch however, there is seemingly a general consensus within the party that the position of vice-president would be zoned to the south-east which may prevent the bloc from jostling for the chairmanship seat.