By Matthew Don
Presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the October 6 primaries, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa is staking everything at his disposal to get the support of delegates from the South East part of Nigeria.
Bafarawa, a two term former governor of Sokoto State is promising the zone the Vice Presidential slot if the PDP delegates from the South East will vote massively for him during the presidential primaries.
There are 13 PDP presidential aspirants seeking to be chosen as the candidate that will fly the party’s flag in next year’s presidential election scheduled for February.
Armadanews.com gathered at the weekend that Bafarawa has confided in those close to him that his Deputy will come from the South East if he emerges the presidential candidate of the PDP.
It is not immediately known what other aspirants are promising the region, but from Bafarawa’s disclosure, it appears the South East may as well have been schemed out of the vice presidential slot assuming the party reclaims power next year.
The ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has since distanced the South East from key roles in the polity.
President Muhammadu Buhari chose Professor Yemi Osinbajo as his deputy in 2015 and is retaining him for next year’s election.
It is also not known whether the APC plans to consider the region for the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives, going by the clamour from other ethnic regions for inclusion in the power hot-beds of the country.
Many believe that the South East will naturally be approached for the Vice Presidential slot by the PDP candidate, but the South South region is not leaving anything to chance as regards getting the slot as well.
But Armadanews.com was told by our source that Bafarawa has told the South East that the position of his deputy coming from the region will not be negotiated if the PDP delegates from there give him massive support during the primaries next month.