Calls for the selection of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through consensus have continued to gather momentum as aspirants and other stakeholders await the decision of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on the zoning committee’s recommendation.

The party’s 37-man committee chaired by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had on Tuesday submitted its report to the National Working Committee (NWC) under the leadership of Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

CDAnews had exclusively reported on April 1 this year that the committee had jettisoned zoning and recommended that the race for the party’s presidential ticket be thrown open to allow aspirants across the country to participate.

Ayu had, while receiving the report of the committee, said the final decision on the zoning impasse would be taken by the NEC of the party.

No date has been fixed for the NEC meeting, even as intense lobbying is ongoing to ensure that the party’s candidate emerges through consensus.

When contacted, spokesperson for the party, Debo Ologunagba said the NWC had only received the report but no date had been fixed for NEC.

It will be made known to the people immediately a date is fixed,” he said on Friday.

Top party sources said that while the issue of zoning was being resolved, critical stakeholders and aspirants were keying into the move to select the party’s candidate through consensus.

The trio of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Sokoto governor, Aminu Waziri Tamhuwal and Bauchi governor, Bala Mohammed, had embarked on a nationwide consultation to get critical stakeholders of the party, including a former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), other aspirants and governors to support the selection of the party’s candidate through consensus.

The consensus promoters recently got another aspirant, Mohammed Hayatudeen, a former chief executive officer of the FSB International Bank to key into the arrangement.

So far, the consensus promoters have visited all the other 11 governors who are members of the PDP to explain their mission. The PDP has 13 governors who are its members. Bauchi and Sokoto are among the consensus promoters.

To secure the support of other aspirants, they have met a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom).

Barring last minute changes, it was gathered that the consensus team will meet with all the presidential aspirants of the party next week.

The meeting will hold next week to get the buying in of all other aspirants of the party. This will enable them to agree on modalities for the selection of the consensus candidate,” he said.

Previously, Saraki who is the spokesman of the consensus advocates had said that all the four of them in the group were qualified to provide effective leadership and good governance for the country.

The national interest and cohesion within the party are more important than individual ambition,” Saraki said during one of their meetings.

CDAnews reports that so far, 17 persons, including the consensus team, had picked forms of the party for the presidency. They include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, veteran journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, Diana Oliver Tariela and Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze.

Also in the race are Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, Governor Udom Emmanuel, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, Cosmos Chukwudi Ndukwe and Dr Ugochukwu Williams.

The closing date for the purchase of forms was April 14, while the final date for submission is tomorrow, April 17, 2022.

While the initiative of the consensus team is being applauded, Wike, Anyim and those in their camp are totally against it.

A leader of the party said the consensus, if all the aspirants submit to it, would enable the party to come out strong at the end of the primaries.

Look at the way we were able to produce our national chairman last year through consensus. If the same can be repeated, it would be good for us and lead us to victory,” he said, pleading not to be named because of his position in the party.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed June 3 as the deadline for the conduct of party primaries for the 2013 general elections.