So far, seven stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), all of them from the Southern part of the country, have commenced moves to clinch the chairmanship position of the party.
This is sequel to the decision of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee to zone the position to the South, ahead of the party’s convention slated for August 17.

‎A former national officer of the party from the South, who is also eyeing the seat, told our correspondent, yesterday, that he has all it takes to change the fortunes of the party.
He added that other contenders for the post include a former deputy national vice chairman of the party, Chief Bode George; the immediate national vice chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus; the immediate past national vice chairman (South-south), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh; and a media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
He said a former governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Professor Tunde Adeniran and Senator Bode Olajumoke may likely contest for the chairmanship.
‎Our correspondent gathered that of all the aspirants, only Dr. Ojougboh is from the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the party, even as the rest have aligned with the Senator Makarfi-led national caretaker committee.
Chief Bode George had on Monday, in Lagos, confirmed that he will vie for the chairmanship.
But, in an interview, Dr. Ojougboh said the planned Port-Harcourt convention “is illegal”.
It was gathered that chieftains of the party from the South-West are agitating to fill the chairmanship slot on the grounds that their region was never entrusted with the revered office since the emergence of the PDP in 1998.
It was also learnt that the South-West and South-East are intensifying strategies to secure the 2019 vice presidential ticket‎.