October 22, (THEWILL) – The race to replace the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu, is taking shape as two prominent leaders of the party and former Senate Presidents, Dr Bukola Saraki and David Mark are said to be lobbying to take over the chairmanship of the party.
Abubakar Bukola Saraki was the Senate President from 2015 to 2019. He previously served as Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011 and was elected to the Senate in 2011, under the PDP, representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District and then re-elected in 2015 under the APC
He left the ruling party, APC and returned to his former party, the PDP, where he became opposition leader, on July 31, 2018.
Saraki declared his ambition for the PDP presidential ticket in the 2019 general election, but lost the primaries to Atiku Abubakar. He was subsequently announced as the Director-General of Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign for the 2019 presidential election, which he lost to former President, Muhammadu Buhari
David Mark is a retired Brigadier-General. He served as the 12th Senate President from 2007 to 2015. Before then, he was the representative of Benue South Senatorial District in the Senate from 1999 to 2019.
Prior to his senatorial career, Mark was the Military Governor of Niger State from 1984 to 1986 and a former Minister of Communication. He is the longest serving president of the Nigerian Senate. He served for three terms.
Mark was elected to his position as President of the Senate of Nigeria on June 6, 2007. He ran for re-election to the Senate for Benue South in April 2011 and was elected for a fourth term. David Mark noted that the polls pointed to his decisive victory and called on his opponents to work with him to improve Nigeria.
THEWILL recalls that following the suspension of Ayu in March 2023 at the ward level in Benue State, the PDP has been without a substantive Chairman.
Umar Ililya Damagum, the party’s Deputy Chairman (North) assumed the role of Acting National Chairman, following Ayu’s suspension, but it is reported that most party leaders, especially Atiku’s supporters, are not comfortable with his leadership.
THEWILL recalls that the call for Ayu’s sack after Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a fellow northerner, had picked the presidential ticket of the party and Ayu’s refusal to step down caused a division within the party which eventually forced the five governors of the party, known as G-5 Governors, to work for the APC candidate and incumbent President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the February 2023 Presidential election.
Other PDP Governors who worked for the APC include Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Samuel Ortom of Benue State.
In a move to replace Ayu, sources within the party said, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his group have thrown up Senator David Mark, while the other group have put forward Senator Bukola Saraki.
Both Saraki and Mark are from the North Central where Ayu hails from.
Social media went abuzz, penultimate Tuesday as Senator Bukola Saraki visited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike at his Abuja residence.
In the viral video on social media, Wike entertained Saraki in his Abuja residence, taking him to the kitchen and displayed his expertise in the preparation of delicacies.
Political analysts and watchers of political developments have insinuated that Saraki’s to Wike is not unconnected with the chairmanship tussle of the PDP, as well as part of ongoing moves to reconcile aggrieved PDP leaders and members.
Both Saraki and Wike contested the PDP presidential primary, which was won by Atiku.
Despite his romance with APC and the fact that he is holding the position of FCT Minister under the APC –led Federal Government, Wike has repeatedly said he is still in PDP.
Watchers of political developments have however said with the intention of Wike’s group intention to remain in the PDP, they don’t want to be left out of the scheming towards the emergence of a new chairman, hence the recent visit of Saraki to his residence.
Sources within the group say it is backing Saraki who is regarded as a bridge builder and who is seen as neutral and one that can be relied upon on as against David Mark who is believed to be loyal to Atiku.
On the other hand, Atiku and his group are rooting for the former Senate President, David Mark, to become the next National Chairman of the party.
The group supporting the former Vice President expressed dissatisfaction with Damagum’s appointment, as they perceive him to be closely associated with a former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is serving in the All Progressives Congress (APC)-dominated Federal Government.
They believe that if Mark is appointed as the next Chairman of the party, he has the capacity to deal with renegade party members who are involved in anti-party activities.
THEWILL gathered that they however, eventually reconsidered their plans due to concerns about potential negative repercussions.
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
