y Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, & Ben Agande
LAGOS—CONTINUING intrigues among the four allied Northern presidential candidates may have prompted the Mallam Adamu Ciroma led 17 Wise Men committee to defer its choice candidate to confront President Goodluck Jonathan for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential ticket.

Vanguard learnt, yesterday, that the decision on the consensus candidate earlier slated to be disclosed before the end of this month has now been deferred to the first days of next month.

The three other candidates involved are Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abubakar Saraki.

The Ciroma committee had earlier this month affirmed that it would make its decision on a consensus candidate by the end of this month.

Vanguard learnt that the time-line which ends on Sunday, might have become untenable upon the intrigues surrounding the choice.

The four campaign organizations have also remarkably tempered overt campaigning resorting instead to strategic stakeholder groups.

Reflective of the somber state of some of the campaigns, Gen. Babangida’s otherwise readily available spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua could not be reached, yesterday.

Ciroma, chairman of the Wise Men committee was also not answering his mobile phones.

Sources close to the Ciroma committee said the decision on the consensus candidate would come in the first three days of next month.

A top official inclined to one of the campaign organisations told Vanguard:“You know there is nothing much we can do now until the 17 Wise men have spoken, so we are waiting.”

On the acceptability of the decision of the Ciroma committee, another senior official of a campaign organization of one of the quartet said: “Well when we get to the bridge we will cross it.”

The Gusau campaign train which swept through Kaduna was, however, an exception as it was boisterous of its chances.

Senator Adudu told Vanguard: “We are very confident and this is pegged on Gen. Gusau’s vast experience as a security expert and the lack of negative perception about him.

You know that there is no negative report about him despite his wide experience in government.