All things being equal, former People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, may become victorious in the chairmanship election of the party scheduled to hold at the Port Harcourt convention on August 17.
This speculation is coming at a time when the PDP has said there is no going back on the convention schedule to hold this weekend.
Close sources revealed that Agbaje is enjoying the support of the majority of PDP governors, who want a fresh face in the leadership of the party.
The former governorship candidate is in the race for the PDP chair along with former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, Prof Tunde Aderiran, former minister of education and Chief Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications Ltd. The PDP chair has been zoned to the South West.
Sources close to governors revealed that some of the PDP state chief executives are rooting for Agbaje owing to the fact that he not only made impact in the last 2015 governorship election in Lagos but also nearly defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also the governors are supporting Agbaje because, being a fresh blood in the party’s leadership, he is expected to bring drive, innovation and unity in the party.
According to competent source close to the arrowhead of the governors said, “the governors have decided that the PDP needs a fresh hand, someone who has not been involved before. Agbaje foots the bill at present.”
“At this time, PDP does not need people who have been part of the system. With all due respect, the governors believe that Chief Bode George has been involved. He was deputy national chairman many years ago. The governors want and end to the old order.”
He confirmed that the zoning of the PDP chairmanship to South West stands, saying that the aspiration of Chief Dokpesi is against the zoning structure.
“Well, the PDP zoned the chairmanship to South West. Anyone who is not from the zone contesting is working against the party’s programme,” he said.
