2015 poll: President may not bow to PDP governors

2015 poll: President may not bow to PDP governors

President Goodluck Jonathan may not bow to the wishes of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who are trying to hijack the 2015 polls nominations, it was learnt yesterday.
Jonathan and PDP are working on alternatives which the governors might pick from to allow peace to reign in the party.
It was gathered that the Presidency and the party will checkmate the excesses of some of the governors to avoid going to the 2015 general elections with a divided house.
The President summoned PDP senators to an emergency meeting at the Presidential Villa last night.
One of the options on the table to pacify senators is a recommendation by Senate President David Mark that the party should either retain two senators per state, or at worst, one PDP senator in each state.
The President and the PDP are worried that governors have decided to nominate their successors, seek senatorial tickets, influence choice of National and State Assembly members, and determine ministerial nominees and board appointees if the President is re-elected in February.
But the President and his strategists have concluded that the governors cannot have their way because it would amount to surrendering the party’s structure to them.
A source in the Presidency said: “What the governors are saying is that they want a figure-head President and would be in control of party structure. In a democracy, it does not work out this way.
“The thinking of the Presidency is that any outgoing governor can choose between picking his successor and going to the Senate. Also, governors seeking second term will have to stay away from nomination processes for other elective and appointive offices. All other elective posts and appointments will be determined by the President after consultations with the party leadership.
“We have reached a level that we must give the governors alternatives to choose from. This is what the President and PDP will do.”