Anenih, Nnamani, Ali, Akande Jostle for PDP BoT Chair

Former Minister of Works, Chief Anthony Anenih

The former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, former Minister of Works, Chief Anthony Anenih, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Ali and former Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Board of Trustees (BoT) have thrown their hats into the ring to contest for the chairmanship of the PDP BoT.

The 120-member strong BoT of the ruling party will meet Fridaay night to choose a new chairman for the board.

The seat became vacant following former President Olusegun Obasanjo's resignation in April this year.

THISDAY learnt that the campaign for who will replace Obasanjo as the chairman of the BoT is intense as members have crisscrossed the states taking their campaigns to members of the board.

But it is uncertain as to where the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan lies.

Though no zoning formula is used in determining the chairman of the BoT, it is believed that there should be equity in the election of members into the various organs of the party.

The president is from the South-south, the same zone as Anenih who was ousted from office in 2007 by Obasanjo. Anenih was the chairman of the BoT from 2003 to 2007.

However, the national chairman of the PDP is from the North-east, the national secretary is from the South-west, while the chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum is from South-south, although the latter position is not a party post.

Yet pundits believe that given the fact that the president and chairman of the NGF are from the same geopolitical zone, it could count against Anenih.

On his part, Ken Nnamani, a former senate president, is banking on his popularity and for serving as the antidote for the third term project, to become the next chairman of the BoT.

He is also from the South-east that has complained that the zone has been marginalised in PDP affairs.

Also campaigning vigorously for the office is the former national chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali. He is from Kogi State, and the same North-central zone as the secretary of the BoT, Senator Walid Jubrin.

Also, Chief Harry Akande from the South-west has expressed interest to contest the election. He told THISDAY that he has filed his intention to become the PDP BoT chairman to the secretary of the board.