From Ndubuisi Orji, and Kemi Yesufu Abuja

Ahead of the December 9, 2017 national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party’s caucus in the House of Representatives and four aspirants are considering a consensus candidate for the national chairmanship position.

At two separate meetings in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the caucus and the aspirants met and mulled a consensus candidate for the position.

On Tuesday night, the caucus screened two candidates, Jimi Agbaje and Taoheed Adedoja and admitted a consensus candid ate would not be “a bad idea,” according to the caucus’ secretary, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf.

“There’s a school of thought that believe that if we can reach a consensus without an election, that’s a good thing for PDP. There are those that are thinking and working along the line and that’s fine.

“It’s fine because, it’s assumed that if we do not manage the situation well, we might find a spill-over at the congress. So, we have a conviction that if consensus is reached, so be it. We will go by the consensus. We will even be part of building it, if need be.

“However, we’re not promoting it. We’re aware and were supporting it, but we’re not initiating it,” Yusuf said.

Also, four aspirants met on Tuesday night and those who attended were former chairman of Daar Communication, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel,  former minister of Sports and Youth Development, Professor Taoheed Adedoja and 2015 PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje.

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Apart from the quartet, other contestants for the chairmanship position are former deputy national of the party, Chief Olabode George, former minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran, former acting national chairman, Uche Secondus and former Oyo State governor, Rashidi Ladoja.  They were not at the meeting.

Daniel said the meeting was to demonstrate that the contest for the PDP chairmanship was not a do-or-die affair.

He said although the issue of a consensus candidate for the PDP chairmanship was not discussed at the meeting, “it cannot completely be ruled out. Nothing is impossible especially when you have people of like minds,” the former governor stated.

Adedoja said the four chairmanship aspirants resolved at the meeting, which was held at Dokpesi’s residence in Asokoro District, Abuja, that whoever wins at the convention will be acceptable to all, provided the process was free and fair.  He explained that the four other aspirants who were absent from the meeting sent their apologies. 

Besides, the former minister said the meeting was also to send signals to their supporters that the contest is a  family affair, so that they can conduct themselves peacefully in the run-up to the convention.

Similarly, Dokpesi told journalists at the end of the meeting that all the aspirants are working together to ensure a successful convention.

“All of us are working together, we are brothers and we have been together for a long time; for something close to 30, 35 years. There is no enmity among us.”