in

2023: Saraki, Bala Mohammed Shortlisted As PDP Presidential Consensus Candidates

Bukola Saraki and Bala Mohammed have been endorsed by the Northern Elders’ Forum.

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed have been shortlisted as northern consensus candidates ahead of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary.

2023: Saraki, Bala Mohammed Shortlisted As PDP Presidential Consensus Candidates

Bukola Saraki and Bala Mohammed Endorsed

The Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi, who disclosed this in a statement, said the decision was made after a meeting with General Ibrahim Babangida on Friday in Minna.

Abdullahi said that the Saraki and Mohammed have been urged to work together to make allowance for further consultations to come up with one consensus candidate.

He said, “For the purpose of this exercise, it is hereby resolved that Governor Bala Mohammed from the North East and former Senate President Bukola Saraki from the North Central be presented as the northern consensus candidates for the moment,” he said.

“The successful aspirants are hereby urged to work together to make allowance for further consultations to foster understanding among themselves and the PDP community to ensure a rancour free primaries in which all eligible candidates would be free to exercise their right.”

READ:  2023 Elections: Atiku Challenges Tinubu To One Hour TV Interview - Breaking News

According to Ango, four aspirants from northern Nigeria presented themselves for the consensus including Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor Bala Mohammed, Dr Bukola Saraki, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

He said that General Babangida opted for inclusion through wider consultation and assigned him to design a criteria and carry out the necessary consultations with elders and leaders across the three geopolitical zones in the north.

Ango said that the process is conducted in three stages which include candidates assessment, zonal assessment and PDP previous experiences.

He said, “In the first phase, the opinions of six distinguished persons each from the three geopolitical zones were sought with regards 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.

READ:  2023: Court Strikes Out Nwajiuba's Suit To Disqualify Atiku And Tinubu Over Alleged Vote Buying

“The outcome of that consultation was as follows: Seven votes for Aminu Waziri, 10 votes for Bala Mohammed, 10 votes for Bukola Saraki and five votes for Mohammed Hayatu-deen.

“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.”

He said it was then resolved that a leading aspirant from North Central and one from 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”.

READ:  INEC plans rerun, bye-elections for February 2024

Also speaking to Journalists, the Governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed said that he and Saraki would meet to come up with one consensus Presidential candidate adding that they will do their best to build unity for the north and Nigeria.

“We have reached an agreement to seek consensus so that we can close rank and build unity for the north and Nigeria. We are happy that after due process and due consultation, involving the PDP Northern Elders Forum, I and Saraki have been chosen as Northern consensus candidates. We will go ahead and consult more among ourselves and bring out one candidate.”

He stated that those who have not made it are free to aspire if they wish while appreciating Babangida, the northern elders and other members of PDP for the confidence they have in them.

“The criteria used are transparent and acceptable to all of us. We are not proud or arrogant about this outcome, we are taking it with humility and we will make sure we reach out to others to make sure PDP comes up with a consensus candidate free of rancour and division so that we can give Nigerians the leadership they dearly need at this time.”

He clarified that the consensus is the representation of the north adding that discussions are ongoing with other aspirants from the south.

Meanwhile, Former Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima has insisted that the North will support the presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Linda Ikeji Was Part Of The Reasons My Marriage Failed - Caroline Danjuma [Video]

Linda Ikeji Was Part Of The Reasons My Marriage Failed – Caroline Danjuma [Video]

BREAKING: Alaafin Of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi Dies At 83 After Ruling For 52 Years

BREAKING: Alaafin Of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi Dies At 83 After Ruling For 52 Years