By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—AHEAD of the January 8, 2013 election of the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Secretary of the board, Senator Walid Jubrin disclosed, yesterday, that 20 aspirants have picked forms, including non-BoT members.

Senator Jubrin said those who ordinarily were not expected to purchase the form did, adding that the fate of those persons will be known during screening and voting, especially against the backdrop that only members of the BoT will determine the next Chairman, either through open or secret ballot.

According to him, PDP’s constitution stipulates that the BoT Chairman and Secretary shall emerge from the party‘s BoT membership made up of 98 and that what this connotes is that those who are not members of the party‘s BoT are not qualified to contest the positions.

Jubrin added that since the election of the BoT chairman was not specified in the party’s constitution, the BoT would implore a methodology that would ensure an open and transparent election, adding “January 8 had been fixed for the election of the party’s BoT chairman and it shall remain so.”

Meanwhile, PDP governors stormed the Wadata Plaza, National Secretariat of the party to plead on behalf of their colleague, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, who has been having a running battle with the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee.

The governors, who were led by the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, and Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, particularly asked the NWC of the party to reverse its decision of sacking the Adamawa State PDP Executive that was loyal to the governor and replaced with a Caretaker Committee.

The governors and their representatives, who were 12, told Tukur that they appreciated the reconciliation programme of the party’s leadership and moves designed to bring peace to the PDP.

At the end of the closed-door meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, told newsmen that the governors urged the PDP leadership to revisit the Adamawa issue since the governor had visited the leadership of the party and also showed remorse, where he pleaded with Tukur and others.

It will be recalled that PDP’s NWC had last month sacked the State Executive Committee against the backdrop that the Mijinyawa Kugama-led exco, which was loyal to Nyako, refused carrying out certain instructions from the headquarters of the party.

To replace the exco, the Bamanga Tukur-led NWC inaugurated a nine-member caretaker committee to run the affairs of the party in the state.

The Adamawa State Caretaker Committee has Amb. Umar Damagun from Yobe State as Chairman.

Some others are Mr. Eli Gamaliel, member, Adamawa South; Mr. Dahiru Shehu, Adamawa South; Alhaji Sabo Mohammed, Adamawa Central.

Others are Mrs Grace Mamba, Adamawa Central; Capt. (Mrs) Altine Inuwa, Adamawa North; Mr. Samuel Zadok, Adamawa South; Alhaji. Adamu Paka, Adamawa North and Emmanuel Tsamdu from Adamawa North as Secretary.