It appears Sokoto State Governor and presidential aspirant Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is about to become the flag bearer of the PDP in the upcoming presidential elections. He seems to be the only aspirant to have the block vote of his region and votes from other parts of the country.
Two very senior PDP leaders have also confidentially revealed that some very influential stakeholders in the party who are very keen on making sure that no stone is left untouched to ensure that the PDP wins in 2023 seem to have settled for Tambuwal and they are working out ways to make some aspirants step down for the Sokoto State Governor and former speaker of the houses of representative.
One of our sources revealed to us that to anticipate what party leaders are trying to do, some weak aspirants are sending messages on social media and getting some media outlets to report that they are strong in states where they are not because they do not want leaders to tell them to step down.
It appears many have concluded that Tambuwal is the aspirant that will win based on calculations done by party insiders who are in touch with PDP chapters across the country.
According to our party sources, it is clear Atiku cannot win because he is not in control of the Northeastern region of the country that is in contention with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and other aspirants. Atiku like all others has also lost the North-West states to Tambuwal.
It is clear Wike cannot win because he has lost the South-East states to aspirants of that region, not to be left out in the cold, many PDP members in the South East are considering going with Tambuwal if their own aspirant cannot win the ticket.
The South-South States are one of the most contended in this election. Nyesom Wike will get his Rivers State just like Udom Emmanuel will get his Akwa Ibom State. Edo state, where Wike stands no chance, is uncertain and contended between Atiku and Tambuwal in a proxy war between the State Governor Godwin Obaseki and the national vice chairman Dan Orbih. Delta state is contended between Atiku and Tambuwal, Wike might get some votes here. Bayelsa State is up for grabs for all but looks good for Tambuwal and bad for Wike. Cross River State is contended between Northern aspirants Tambuwal and Atiku on one side and Southern aspirants Wike and Emmanuel on the other.
The North Central is another highly contended region where aspirants will pick bits and pieces here and there. Benue was expected to go to Wike but it appears Tambuwal has made some inroads in Benue and Plateau States. Saraki is expected to pick Kwara, Tambuwal and Atiku will contend Kogi with Saraki. Atiku and Tambuwal will contend Niger and Nasarawa States.
Voting pattern in the last two days shows 3 major aspirants in contention in the Southwest States. Wike is expected to pick most of Ekiti and Oyo States Tambuwal is contending Ogun, Osun and Ondo States with Atiku. Lagos is keenly contested between Tambuwal, Wike and Atiku.
Tambuwal is the only candidate with a block vote of over 10 states behind him and he is the only one contending in more than 14 more states.
One of our sources revealed to us that their chats with party insiders have revealed that leaders want a solid and influential party in government and members want a PDP candidate that can stand his ground against any eventual APC candidate.
The governors play a major role in this election and they seem to want a governor like them to emerge. This desire counts against Atiku and Saraki who are not sitting governors and it also counts against Wike who is not seen as a friend of all. Our sources insist that once we discount the votes of the governors contesting but with little chance of winning it becomes clear that Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the front runner as we approach the coming convention.
