THE only thing that can make me step down is death. If I am alive, we will run this thing. We will hold the primary on May 28 and 29.”
The statement was made by Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike in a BBC Pidgin interview that was aired on April 22.
Wike was reacting to moves by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders to select the party’s presidential flagbearer for the 2023 general elections through a consensus arrangement.
Moves for a consensus candidate and the debate over zoning of the presidential ticket are thorny issues that PDP leaders are trying to resolve in the build up to the 2023 elections.
For the consensus arrangement to work, other aspirants would, voluntarily, step down for the candidate endorsed by the party.
Section 84(9) of the Electoral Act stipulated that “A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate.”
But even as those championing the consensus arrangement are going ahead with consultations, Wike has made it clear that he will not be stepping down for anybody.
“Why will I step down for anybody? If you want to do consensus, there must be equity and fairness. Are the hands of those demanding consensus clean? People talking about consensus are the ones running the election. Is it the party’s decision? It is not the party that is talking,” he added in the BBC Pidgin interview.
Wike went ahead to describe the proposed consensus arrangement as “a scam”.
The Rivers state governor’s stance indicates that it may not be possible for the PDP to meet up with the requirements of Section 84(9) of the Electoral Act. Wike is not ready to submit any written document to indicate his consent to step down for any consensus candidate.
But unfolding developments in the PDP show that Wike is not the only presidential aspirant who is opposed to the consensus arrangement.
As of April 20, a total of 17 aspirants have submitted expression of interest and nomination forms for the PDP presidential ticket and, therefore, are set to contest the party’s primary election.
The aspirants are Vice President Atiku Abubakar; a former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed; Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, an Investment banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; a pharmacist Sam Ohuabunwa and a former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly Cosmos Ndukwe.
Others are Charles Ugwu; a female aspirant Tareila Diana; a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim; Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel; a former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi; a former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose; a United States-based medical practitioner, Nwachukwu Anakwenze and media mogul Dele Momodu.
The PDP had initially fixed April 20 as deadline for the submission of forms but the deadline was extended to April 25.
Saraki, Mohammed, Tambuwal initiated consensus arrangement
However, even while the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms was still ongoing, and with the party yet to take a final decision on zoning of the presidential ticket, some PDP presidential aspirants came together to engage in consultations towards agreeing on a consensus candidate.
The PDP presidential aspirants involved in the consensus consultations are Saraki, Bauchi and Sokoto governors Mohammed and Tambuwal, and Hayatu-Deen.
