By HENRY UMORU
AHEAD of the March 24 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the races for the 24 national offices have become clearer with 87 candidates throwing their hats into the battle arena.

Vanguard gathered at the National Secretariat of the party that the offices of National Chairman, National Secretary and National Youth Leader have 11 candidates each.

The  office of National Chairman is zoned to North East, while Secretary goes to South West and National Youth Leader is for the North Central.

* One of the aspirants ...Bamanga Tukur

Office of the National Organizing Secretary, NOS, which is zoned to North West has 10 contenders, Deputy National Chairman, which is for South South has five candidates; National Auditor, which goes to South-West has four  while the National Women Leader thath is zoned to South East has 10 aspirants.

One striking thing about the list of the Women Leader is that despite the fact that the position was sub-zoned by the South East to Imo State, there are two aspirants, Uchegbu Ada Kate and Ibenenze Hephezibah Chika  from Anambra.

The rest, who are from Imo are Nandi Betty Thuaku, Afulezi Carol Anyanwu; Kemafo Nonyerem Chikwe; Onyechere Nima Love; Orubele Ngozi Bernadecte; Princess Millie-Uzokwe; Alberto Nworke Tina and Onuoha Miriam Odinaka.

For the National Publicity Secretary which is for the South East, there are seven aspirants with six from Anambra where the zone re-zoned the slot to.

The six aspirants from Anambra are the present National Vice Chairman of the zone, Chief Olisa Metu, Nwosu Caroline, Arch. Okey Muo; Nkwocha Mike; Udenze Chike Cletus and Ben Obidigbo while Chyna Iwuanyanwu is from Imo state.

Those contesting for the office of Deputy National Chairman are the present National Organising Secretary, Prince Uche Secondus from Rivers State; Senator Stella Omu, Delta; Jaja Sani Sam, Rivers; Bassey Samuel Ethothi; and  Nkpubre Edet Okon.

Those for the position of National Chairman are Bamanga Tukur, Adamawa; Shettima Mustapha, Borno; Adamu Waziri, Taraba; Abba Aji, Borno; Adamu Bello, Adamawa; Gambo Lawan, Borno; Musa Babayo, Bauchi; Rufai Ahmed Alkali, Gombe and Ahmed Adamu Mauzu, Bauchi.

In the contest for National

Secretary are Adeniran Tunde, Ekiti; Oke Olusola Alex, Ondo; Sarumi Oladapo Babatunde, Lagos; Babatope Ebenezer Oluwole, Osun; Fabiyi Anthony Oladimeji, Ogun; Akin-Deko Akintayo, Ondo; Adedoja Taoheed, Oyo; Salis Owolabi, Lagos; Olu_Ojo Bola, Ekiti; Pedro Olufemi Olusegun, Lagos and Daramola Joseph Babatunde, Lagos.

Aspirants from Cross River

National Auditor has four aspirants, National Treasurer, four; National Financial Secretary has two and they are both from Cross River State; Deputy National Secretary has two and both are from Ebonyi; Deputy National Organising Secretary has Nnaedozie Okechukwu from Enugu State, just as the present National Vice Chairman, North Central, Ayitogu Agade Yusufu, will be returned unopposed.

Also to be returned unopposed are Akobubdu Augustine Okwudiri, National Vice Chairman, South East and he hails from Abia; National Legal Adviser has Usman Mohammed Kabir from Kogi as unopposed.

Zonal Youth Leader, South South is Nkpanam Asukwo Daniel, unopposed; Mbakwe Obi for Zonal Ex_officio, South East; Hassan Yahaya from Niger as Zonal Organising Secretary, North Central; Zonal Auditor, North Central, Abokie Abdullahi Ibrahim from the FCT; Zonal Woman Leader, North Central, Mamman Saratu, FCT; State youth Leader, South West, Adepoju Sheriff Oyewole, Lagos and Taiwo Taiwo James, state Treasurer, South West (Lagos).