Son of the soil and former senator, Dr. Ahmadu Ali is favoured to succeed former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees chairman.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo resigned last Monday as chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It was gathered that the names of former chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali from Kogi State, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani from Enugu State in the South-east, and former works minister, Chief Anthony Anenih from Edo State in the South-south top a shortlist of names that may replace Obasanjo.
The controversial clause in the PDP constitution that reserved the chairmanship of BoT to former president produced by the party, and which made Obasanjo the only eligible candidate, was removed during the constitution amendment carried out by the party in 2009.
Following the amendment, members of the board are: all past and serving Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who held or hold the respective posts as members of the party and who are still members of the party; past and serving National Chairmen, Deputy National Chairmen and National Secretaries of the party, who are still members of the party; all past and serving Presidents of the Senate and Speakers of the House of Representatives who are still members of the party; all founding fathers.
Other are founding mothers of the party; two women selected from each of the six geo-political zones; three members at least one of whom shall be a woman from each of the six geo-political zones, and person(s) not exceeding six, who have contributed immensely to the growth of the party and found suitable by the board. According to the party’s constitution, the membership of the Board of Trustees shall reflect the Federal character of Nigeria.
Members of the board are to elect a replacement from among them.
In Article12.81, the PDP constitution states that with respects to qualification for BoT chairman and secretary, the body shall “without prejudice to the provision of this constitution, ensures that the person to be elected Chairman and Secretary respectively are of proven integrity and have contributed immensely to the growth of the party”.
