Aminu Tambuwal
2023: Tambuwal rejects Northern Elders’ consensus agreement, set to pursue ambition alone
Sokoto State Governor, and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, has rejected the outcome of the just-concluded Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) consensus agreement for the emergence of a candidate to represent the zone ahead of the 2023 Presidential poll.
The Sokoto Governor now plans to go ahead with his Presidential ambition after submitting his nomination forms to the PDP.
Tambuwal was among a group of aspirants who had formed the ‘consensus-building initiative’ made up of northern candidates for the presidential ticket within the PDP. Other members of the group included; Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as well as, Dr. Mohammed Hayatudeen, and other party stakeholders.
The group had consulted with State Governors of the South East region, including Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, seeking their endorsement for a consensus candidate from the north for the ticket of the party, despite aspirations by the South East region for the opportunity to be zoned to it.
However, a meeting convened by the northern elders at the instance of former military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) rose from its meeting, Friday, to annoubce its decision to settle for Bala Mohammed and Bukola Saraki as choice for the PDP ticket.
Reacting to the decision by the Northern elders, the Sokoto governor said via his verified Twitter handle (@AWTambuwal), early Saturday, that the consensus ‘drive has failed.’
“Northern Consensus Drive Failed. Therefore, I’m Not Part of Any Agreement. – AWT” Tambuwal said.
The northern elders on Friday, April 22, picked Governor Bala Mohammed and former Senate President Bukola Saraki as the best candidates for the PDP, based on a report by its committee set up for that purpose.
Professor Ango Abdullahi, the head of the committee which screened the aspirants from the region, noted that the process that produce Mohammed and Saraki was rigorous.
Abdullahi told journalists in Minna, Niger state capital, Friday, April 22, that former military head of state, Babangida, received and approved a report submitted to him by the committee on the elders’ choice.
In his advice to the Bauchi governor and the former Senate boss, Abdullahi noted that they should both work together and decide on which of them will represent the north in the PDP.
“For the purpose of this exercise, it is hereby resolved that Governor Bala Mohammed from the North-East and former Senate President Bukola Saraki from the North-Central be presented as the northern consensus candidates for the moment.
“The successful aspirants are hereby urged to work together to make allowance for further consultations to foster understanding among themselves and the PDP community to ensure a rancour-free primary in which all eligible candidates would be free to exercise their right,” said Abdullahi.
Also remarking, Governor Bala Mohammed said: “We have reached an agreement to seek consensus so that we can close rank and build unity for the North and Nigeria.
“We are happy that after due process and due consultation, involving the PDP Northern Elders Forum, I and Saraki have been chosen as the northern consensus candidates. We will go ahead and consult more among ourselves and bring out one candidate.”
