#PDPConventionPH: Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal battle for delegates votes

Fears of a Governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) working to deliver “a weak” candidate in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election gripped delegates and leaders of the party on Saturday.

Feelers emanating from the different camps of the delegates to the convention indicated that they were wary of a Governor of the party who is said to have entered into a secret deal with the APC to deliver a particular candidate that is believed to pose little threat to the APC in the 2019 election.

It was gathered that the fear of that possibility forced the party leaders and Governors to oppose any bid to adopt a single candidate going into the convention.

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Sources said that the party leaders resolved to closely guard the delegates and prevent any possible last minute hijack.

A source in the know described the situation thus: “The leaders are worried that they must do everything to prevent a hijack, that is why the issue of money was relegated. We are afraid those being sponsored might outspend everyone if it comes to issue of money.

“So we have encouraged delegates at the state and zonal levels to adopt candidates of their choice while the delegate is still given the freedom to vote for a candidate of his choice.”

The decision is coming on the heels of the three horse race that unfolded earlier in the day.

It was observed that the trio of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had short into the lead of the pack in the hunt for delegates across the zones.

Sources said that while Atiku and Saraki have been adopted by delegates from the South East and North East, delegates from the North Central have fully adopted Saraki. Tambuwal is said to have having a slice of the South South alongside the duo of Atiku and Saraki, while the South West is said to have the haunting ground of Atiku, Saraki, Tambuwal and former Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi. The North West is said to have been split among the long list of aspirants from the zone, just ahead of voting proper, when some aspirants are expected to step down.

Govs, PDP leaders agree not to adopt candidate

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) early on Saturday agreed not to adopt any of the 12 aspirants seeking the party’s ticket in the ongoing national convention.

The leaders, who met till early hours of Saturday agreed not to adopt a common candidate ahead of the voting exercise.

Sources close to the meeting said that the Governors and party leaders agreed to ensure a level playing field for all the aspirants.

It was gathered that the argument at the meeting was that since there are two governors in the contest and that some of the contestants are also former Governors and too leaders of the party.

“The leaders agreed not to adopt any particular candidate and to allow the aspirants to campaign and win delegates. Whoever emerges at the end of the day, will be acceptable to the party,” a source at the meeting.

The source stated that the PDP was ensuring a level playing field for every contestant so as to ensure a united front at the end of the day.

Atiku, Saraki sweep to early lead

Delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party who have converged on the Rivers state Capital, Port Harcourt have started giving indications as to the voting pattern ahead of the national convention holding in Rivers state.
Sources inside the meeting rooms of.the ongoing horse trading among the delegates and the leaders indicate that delegates are already holding court and deciding the fate of the delegates.
Sources confirmed that delegates from North Central, who are first to decide have picked Senate President Bukola Saraki as the preferred candidate.
Delegates from the South East were also said to have decided to spilt their votes between Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senate President Bukola Saraki.
It was gathered that the zonal decisions would guide the aspirants going into the convention ground.

NASS MEMBERS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES GIVE VOTES TO SARAKI
…..NORTH EAST ADOPT ATIKU SARAKI

People with special needs who were given 37 delegates to the PDP National Convention ongoing in Port Harcourt have adopted Senate President Bukola Saraki, pledging to give him all their votes.
Sources at a meeting between the Saraki team and the special needs delegates said that the delegates declared that only Saraki had come to campaign to them so far and that they would give him their 37 votes.

Also happening now, investigations have revealed that National Assembly members have also decided to give a majority of their votes to Saraki.

A breakdown of the voting preference shows that 138 of the Federal Lawmakers have pledged to vote Dr Bukola Saraki, former Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is also the Governor of Sokoto State is coming second on the Nass votes with 34 votes while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is third with 28 votes.

NORTH east decides

Delegates of the North East geopolitical zone at the PDP national convention in the early evening of Saturday decided to share their votes between two aspirants; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senate President Bukola.

Reports from the camp of the delegates indicated early in the evening that the zone will spilt it’s votes between Atiku and Saraki.

The decision is similar with what was is emerging from the South East where delegates were said to have agreed to share their votes between Atiku and Saraki.

South-East Delegates split between Saraki and Atiku.

Earlier in the day, delegates from the South East zone were said to have agreed to share their votes between Atiku and Saraki.

It was gathered that the final decision to pick a single candidate could not be taken before delegates filed out to the Stadium, venue of the convention. The delegates are to further await directives from the state chairmen of the party if the leaders were able to agree to a single candidate before the final voting.

More later…