From TAIWO AMODU, AbujaThe implosion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which reached fever pitch last Saturday, when seven governors, led other members of the party to hold a parallel convention in Abuja, has worsened, with more governors set to dump President Goodluck Jonathan.Former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Babangida (Niger), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers) had addressed a press conference in Abuja, last Saturday, announcing the constitution of the leadership of their faction of the PDP. The governors said this became necessary following their dissatisfaction with goings-on in the ruling party. 

A competent source told Daily Sun that four governors are likely to join the faction within the week or in the next couple of weeks. It was gathered that among the four governors, two are from the North, while two are from the South-South.

Daily Sun gathered that Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Darkingari and his Gombe State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, had been approached by the seven governors and had shown willingness to join them, while the two South-South governors, who were willing to join, were studying the situation before making their position public.

The four governors, Daily Sun gathered had been emboldened by the stunning development at the weekend and had assured their colleagues of support.

“The Presidency and Tukur will be jolted by the chain of events in the next few weeks,” the source noted.

Sources also told Daily Sun that the PDP faction would, within the week, constitute its full leadership as well as open a secretariat in Abuja.

It was also gathered that the faction would write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), telling the commission of the development in the party and asking for the recognition of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, its factional chairman, as the authentic leader of the party.

Also, the faction is considering going to court to seek an injunction compelling Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to stop parading himself as the national chairman of the PDP.

Further investigation revealed that as the factional PDP was consolidating, the part led by Tukur was having challenges. It was gathered that the imposition of a ‘unity list’ on the Senator Ndoma Egba-led screening committee worsened the cold war between Tukur and Chief Tony Anenih, chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT).

A party source alleged that the disqualification of Dr. Sam Jaja, for the position of deputy national chairman, was hatched and executed by Anenih.

“Tukur was not privy to it and got wind of it on the eve of Saturday, when it was too late,” Daily Sun gathered.

Meanwhile, former Information Minister and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark has declared that the creation of a parallel PDP would not undermine the chances of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in picking the party’s presidential ticket and winning the 2015 election.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Clark claimed that what happened at the weekend was meant to embarrass President Jonathan.

He said: “Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is the president of Nigeria, not PDP. It is true that PDP presented him. What happened yesterday (Saturday) would not affect his electoral fortune. It is Nigerians that would decide his fate in 2015. No amount of gang up would make Jonathan lose sleep over 2015.

“Obasanjo is the one encouraging them. He is pushing governors Lamido and Amaechi to run in 2015; that’s where the trouble started. Amaechi thought because Senator Bukola Saraki used the Nigeria Governors’ Forum chair to contest to be president, he could also use it to become vice president and we have said in the South-South, we wanted president, not vice president. So, the gang up of five governors, which Amaechi has joined, believe only a northerner could be president.”

The Ijaw national leader also pointed fingers of scorn at Atiku, as he accused the former vice president of inciting the PDP governors against Jonathan and Tukur.

“Atiku said he is in PDP, not PDM, but all his men are in PDM. Is that a loyal member of the party? All his followers have left. PDM was created for them by Atiku.

“Even Governor Murtala Nyako had boasted that they would bury the PDP. Let them go, but I can tell you that PDP will remain stronger! They will soon know that they are alone. Atiku has always been a disloyal person; what he is doing now he has done it to Obasanjo before,” Clark noted.

 -Sun