Babangida Aliyu, Gulu Eye PDP National Chair

Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State have intensified their scheming for the national chairmanship of the party with two tendencies emerging in the state.

Investigation revealed that a former governor of the state, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, may be set against Kauran Lapai and former governorship aspirant in the state, Alhaji Sidi Abdullahi Bomi Gulu, as they are both set to contest for the national chairman of PDP at the next convention.

It was learnt that supporters of both men have started scheming to get home support ahead of the national convention of the party, even as Alhaji Sidi has made his intention known to the stakeholders ahead of the former governor.

Findings revealed that after receiving the letter of intent of Alhaji Sidi, some party members have started clandestine moves across the nation to lobby for the chairmanship position to be zoned to Niger State.

A top party member observed that “of all the states in the North Central, Niger State is the only state that has not produced the national chairman of the party, we want to capitalize on the vibrancy and the urbane image of Alhaji Sidi to get it for the state.”

A source close to Babangida Aliyu hinted that the former governor may capitalize on his political history with the party’s presidential candidate in the last election Atiku Abubakar to go for the position but some of the party’s stakeholders who spoke on the condition of anonymity expressed concern about the  latest romance with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the state.

A chieftain of the party said, “The way the former governor has played to the gallery of the ruling APC is suspicious and some of us his supporters in the PDP are often asked whether he is still in PDP.”

A stakeholder of the party from Niger South, Hon Abdullahi Shehu confirmed to LEADERSHIP yesterday that the Kauran Lapai has already written to the party in the state about his ambition to contest for national chairman of the party and will soon meet all stakeholders for consultations, saying for now it is only Alhaji Sidi that has told the party of his intention.