PDP BOT: How a dark horse nearly emerged chair

The bid to have a chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) emerge through a consensus rather than through an election, informed the decision of the members Tuesday night, to shelve the election of a new chairman.

A reliable source at the meeting told Daily Trust that the decision to have the election shifted was taken when the clash of interest between President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo over who should be the next chairman of the BOT almost threw up a dark horse as chairman.
The source said initially President Jonathan who was at the meeting was ready for an election, but that later when it became apparent that the votes may not go as he had expected, it was suggested that the election be put on hold to allow for more consultations as any chairman that would emerge through an election and without the support of the president may not be loyal since the president would have had no hand in his election.
Majority of the party members reasoned that since it is the tradition of the BOT to elect their chairman through consensus, the method should not be jettisoned in order for the party to maintain its respect and orderliness.
The source said former senate President Ken Nnamani gained much support from the camp of those who were not sure if the party would allow Ali to be chairman at a time when the BOT secretary, Walid Jibrin is also from the North Central zone.
 Many members of the board who were not disposed to having Anenih were later mobilized by state governors to vote for Senator Nnamani.  
Daily Trust learnt that the issue of Jibrin came up at the meeting but that most of the members said they have no problem with him and agreed he should continue as secretary of the board till when a new chairman emerges, then his tenure would be renewed to start afresh as the Constitution of the party stipulates that both the chairman and secretary be elected on the same day.
Former senate president, Ken Nnamani who spoke to our correspondent however welcomed the postponement saying it is acceptable to him as it would enable the party observe its own rules.
He said the Tuesday meeting went well and saying he’s happy a new PDP is about to emerge that would be guided by law and not by impunity.
“We are keeping to our own rules, if we do not keep to our rules who do we expect to keep it. So the outcome of the meeting is acceptable to us,” he stated.

The bid to have a chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) emerge through a consensus rather than through an election, informed the decision of the members Tuesday night, to shelve the election of a new chairman.

A reliable source at the meeting told Daily Trust that the decision to have the election shifted was taken when the clash of interest between President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo over who should be the next chairman of the BOT almost threw up a dark horse as chairman.
The source said initially President Jonathan who was at the meeting was ready for an election, but that later when it became apparent that the votes may not go as he had expected, it was suggested that the election be put on hold to allow for more consultations as any chairman that would emerge through an election and without the support of the president may not be loyal since the president would have had no hand in his election.
Majority of the party members reasoned that since it is the tradition of the BOT to elect their chairman through consensus, the method should not be jettisoned in order for the party to maintain its respect and orderliness.
The source said former senate President Ken Nnamani gained much support from the camp of those who were not sure if the party would allow Ali to be chairman at a time when the BOT secretary, Walid Jibrin is also from the North Central zone.
 Many members of the board who were not disposed to having Anenih were later mobilized by state governors to vote for Senator Nnamani.  
Daily Trust learnt that the issue of Jibrin came up at the meeting but that most of the members said they have no problem with him and agreed he should continue as secretary of the board till when a new chairman emerges, then his tenure would be renewed to start afresh as the Constitution of the party stipulates that both the chairman and secretary be elected on the same day.
Former senate president, Ken Nnamani who spoke to our correspondent however welcomed the postponement saying it is acceptable to him as it would enable the party observe its own rules.
He said the Tuesday meeting went well and saying he’s happy a new PDP is about to emerge that would be guided by law and not by impunity.
“We are keeping to our own rules, if we do not keep to our rules who do we expect to keep it. So the outcome of the meeting is acceptable to us,” he stated.