Abuja – As the battle for who emerges as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum Chairman rages, it was learnt that the Rivers State government is lobbying for Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal.
The new Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, who will take over from the outgoing governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, is likely to emerge on Sunday before the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Monday.
While it was gathered that the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike is lobbying for Tambuwal, it was also gathered that some governors are backing Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom as the rightful person for the position.
Those backing Ortom said that the Benue state governor has strong characters that cannot be easily manipulated, noting his position against the invasion of herdsmen in his state.
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Recall that after the tenure of former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, the pioneer Chairman of the Forum, who is from South-South, Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo State, who is from South-West took over. After his tenure, Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, also from South-West took the position, before Ibrahim Dankwambo, former governor of Gombe State, from North East took over briefly, before the position came to Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, from South-South.
North Central, North West and South-East are the zones that have not occupied the chairmanship position of the Forum.
A source close to one of the governors said that the governors are not too comfortable with Tambuwal as Chairman of the Forum, as he will use the Forum as pivotal for his ambition in 2023.
Recall Tambuwal contested against Atiku Abubakar during the PDP National Congress in Port Harcourt, where he emerged second.
It was further gathered that Wike, who was the arrow head of Tambuwal ambition in the past PDP national congress, where Atiku emerged as the party flag bearer, is already putting modality in place to ensure that the Sokoto State governor emerged as the Forum Chairman.
Meanwhile, Tambuwal is the Deputy Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, the overall body of the 36 states governors across party line.
THISDAY
