Nigeria Election 2011: North’s Consensus Candidate likely to be declared on Friday

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The tempo of activities ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries will take an upward swing by the weekend when the North's consensus candidate is expected to emerge. 



The Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum, which has been leading the search, concluded its job on Sunday.

There were strong indications yesterday that the common candidate would be unveiled on Friday.

To soften the ground ahead of the announcement, the Ciroma committee has summoned a meeting of all the four presidential aspirants for tomorrow. The aspirants will be briefed on how the committee arrived at its choice in addition to rallying support for the popular choice.

The aspirants are ex-President Ibrahim Babangida, ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; ex-National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, and Kwara Governor Bukola Saraki.

A source said: "I think the panel may name the North's consensus candidate on Friday. This was the highpoint of the Forum Committee's meeting on Sunday night.

"But as part of confidence building, the NPLF leaders will hold a crucial meeting with the four aspirants on Wednesday in Abuja."

An aide to one of the aspirants said last night that their camp had received the invitation from the panel. He said other aspirants had also been invited to tomorrow's meeting. Asked who has been adopted by the Northern leaders, the source said: "Nigerians may know on Friday, if the leaders do not change their mind.

"We want to unveil the consensus candidate so that Northern leaders can start reaching out early enough for negotiation with the Southsouth, Southeast and Southwest geo-political zones for support and over the choice of running mate.

"It is one thing to adopt a consensus candidate; it is another thing to reach accord with vital geopolitical zones."

The source added that the North might reach a pact with the Southeast to enable the zone to produce the nation's President in 2015.

The four aspirants had on September 17, 2010 promised to step down for whoever emerges as the consensus candidate.

2011: North's consensus candidate likely on Friday