Two days after the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, tendered his resignation letter, intense lobbying has commenced among members of the party for his successor.

Saturday Punch learnt that the top hierarchy of the party is divided over who should be propped up to succeed Ogbulafor, who served a 30-day notice of resignation on Thursday.

The Presidency, governors and National Assembly members are said to be supporting different candidates.

It was gathered that governors elected on the party‘s platform from the South-East, who delivered President Goodluck Jonathan‘s message to Ogbulafor advising him to quit, had started consultations on who should succeed the outgoing party chairman.

The governors are, Chief Martins Elechi (Ebonyi State), Mr. Sullivan Chime (Enugu State) and Chief Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State.

Those said to have indicated interest in Ogbulafor‘s job included a former President of the Senate, Chief Pius Anyim Pius; former governor of Ebonyi State who is also the immediate past Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu; and former national secretary of the party, Chief Bernard Eze.

Also listed for consideration are Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo from Enugu State, and former Minister of Defence, Chief Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, who hails from Ogbulafor‘s state of Abia.

While Eze is said to be favoured by those who engineered Ogbulafor‘s removal, it was gathered that the governors are not favourably disposed to him.

Our correspondent also learnt that the fear of Eze had prompted Ogbulafor‘s National Working Committee to include his name among the 19 members of the PDP Reform Group who were recently suspended over alleged anti-party activities.

While others, including former senate president, Chief Ken Nnamani, and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Bello Masari, had their names published in newspapers as invitation to come and clear themselves before the NWC, Eze‘s name was never mentioned.

However, his name surfaced among those suspended a few days later. But a group of politicians in Abuja argued that since President Jonathan hails from the southern part of the country, it would be unfair to have the party‘s chairman from the same zone.

The group has traced the tradition to the days of the National Party of Nigeria. A source within the group said, ”You remember that while President Shehu Shagari came from the North, the chairman of the party, Chief Adisa Akinloye, was from the South.
Source: Punch Newspaper – www.punchng.com