fter a six-hour meeting, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday failed to agree on the order of the primaries for the 2011 polls.
THISDAY learnt the party could not come to an agreement specifically on whether the presidential primary should precede the governorship primary election.
Another bone of contention is the sequence of the convention since PDP has already opted to use the staggered presidential primaries on zonal basis to pick its presidential flag bearer.
Following the disagreement, the party has summoned an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee for tomorrow.
The NEC meeting is expected to resolve the issue around the order of the polls and also approve dates for the various congresses and national convention of the party.
It was learnt that the NWC would continue at its meeting today to fix tentative dates for the various electoral programmes, which will be considered at the NEC meeting.
In the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the presidential election has been fixed for January 22 ahead of the gubernatorial and state house of assembly polls scheduled for January 29.
The parties have between last Saturday, September 11 and October 30 to pick their candidates for the various elective offices.
PDP had been reported earlier to be favourably disposed to conducting the presidential primary before the gubernatorial primary election.
The party stalwarts believed to be sympathetic to the aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan argue that holding the presidential primary first could play to the advantage of the president as it would avoid a situation where some governors gang up against the president after they had won their own tickets.
The governors are also said to be suspicious that the president may dump them after securing his own ticket first.
In the usual tradition of PDP, presidential primaries usually come last after the gubernatorial and National Assembly primaries had taken place.
In the meantime, Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki on Sunday informed President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo about his presidential aspiration and decision to resign as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
This comes as he officially throws his hat into the ring for the presidential race on Friday in Abuja .
THISDAY gathered that Saraki was at the State House around 5pm on Sunday where he met and briefed President Jonathan of his intention to contest the presidential nomination election of PDP.
The governor also told the President that as a result of his decision to contest for the PDP presidential ticket he would resign as the Chairman of NGF.
Sources said the president did not express surprise over the development.
The president was said to have wished Saraki well and the meeting ended.
Saraki also went to the Akinola Aguda Lodge, the official residence of the Vice-President where he told Sambo of his intention as well.
THISDAY gathered that Saraki will officially declare to contest at the PDP presidential primary on September 17 in Abuja.
Saraki is said to be tipping Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi as his running mate.
Also, the six governors that are coordinating the presidential aspiration of President Jonathan are expected to meet at the residence of the Cross Rivers State Governor Liyel Imoke.
THISDAY gathered that the six governors have appointed Imoke as the chairman of the zonal coordinators for Jonathan’s aspiration.
The meeting, according to a top source, is to map out plans for the eventual declaration of the president.
In another development, officials of the State Security Service (SSS) yesterday visited the campaign office of former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, as part of the security checks.
Babangida is due to make his official declaration for the PDP presidential race tomorrow, September 15 at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
The Director of Media and Communications for Babangida’s campaign, Prince Kassim Afegbua, confirmed the visit of the SSS officials to the office.
He, however, said the visit was part of security checks for Babangida’s official declaration.
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