From Taiwo Amodu, Port
Harcourt and Fred Itua, Abuja

Despite  the confusion emanating from  conflicting court orders restraining and affirming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)scheduled convention, chieftains and ordinary faithful of  the main opposition party in the country,  will today elect new set of substantive national officers to administer the party for a statutory four -year tenure.
Leading contenders in  the  race for the exalted position of national chairman are two chieftains of the party from Lagos State: former Deputy National Chairman, Bode George and its governorship candidate in the 2015 general elections, Jimi Agbaje. The chairman emeritus of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi is believed to be waiting to reap from the backlash that would emanate from the clash of the major contenders from Lagos.
Also in the race are former Education Minister, Tunde Adeniran and a former Minister for Special Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja. Since the aspirants from the  South-west where the position had been zoned could not agree on a consensus deal, today’s  election is an  open contest for the votes of delegates. But Dokpesi has insisted on contesting for the position because it is zoned to the South, not South-west and his major support is said to come from his zone and some states in the North.
Daily Sun gathered that PDP governors are torn between Bode George and Jimi  Agbaje for the office of national chairman.
Ondo State governor and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Dr. Segun Mimiko is believed to be the arrow head of the campaign for the emergence of George as national chairman.
But a party source disclosed to Daily Sun, that a  certain governor from the South-south has been able to impress it on his colleagues in the zone and the South-east to line up their delegates behind Agbaje.
“The governors believe they can relate well with Agbaje than his main rival,” the source said.
Daily Sun further gathered that a forum, the PDP Northern Leaders Forum,  led by former Information Minister Professor Jerry Gana was expected yesterday  to receive a report of special screening committee assigned to screen aspirants for all the national offices zoned to the North and South.