By Ken Afor
There are speculations that former Senate President Abubakar Saraki is gunning for the national chairmanship of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following his recent romance with Nyesom Wike, a former governor of River State.
The PDP has not been able to capture power at the center after the 2015 general election when the former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, lost to Muhammadu Buhari.
However, the survival of the party’s soul remains paramount among key members following the recent visit of Wike to Saraki’s house located at Lake Chad Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.
This, however, suggests that Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in an All Progressives Congress, APC, administration still seemingly has interest of the PDP at heart despite his grievance with the party.
Wike’s acceptance to serve in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling APC, was a stunner to many despite his boasts in the build up to the 2023 general election that he won’t be part of APC’s administration if given an offer.
While Wike is yet to decide his political stand – whether he still belongs to the PDP or not – a source privy to Tuesday’s visit alleged that the chances of the former Senator to replace the acting national chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum is very high.
“We are aware that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku, and a few party leaders are discussing the person that will succeed Damagum. In recent times, I am aware that Atiku and some of these leaders have settled for Saraki,” the source claimed.
“They settled for Saraki because they believed he had the charisma and the political will to reposition the party. So, discussion is ongoing within party stakeholders,” added the source.
While Saraki remains the favourite to replace Damagum, the former governor of Kwara State will have to wait for the outcome of the case between Atiku and Tinubu in the controversial alleged certificate forgery by President Tinubu.
“What is delaying the process is the Atiku and PDP’s case before the Supreme Court.
“Once the Supreme Court rules on the presidential election matter between now and November, the leaders will come out open and things will pick up,” the source further added.
