Following the fall of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the March 28 presidential election, the party will automatically assume the role of opposition at the centre as from May 29 when the All Progressives Congress will assume power.

With the resounding defeat at the polls, there are calls by PDP members that the party should be overhauled. Some have even demanded the resignation of the leadership, notably the National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu. Thus, in the post May 29 era, the following are influential party chieftains who have the charm, the resources and the staying power to rally party members across the country and transform the party into a viable opposition capable of dethroning the APC from power in subsequent elections.

1. Goodluck Jonathan: Arguably, Mr. Jonathan is the greatest beneficiary of the party since its formation in 1998. Though little known before he joined politics, Mr. Jonathan, 58, has been a deputy governor in his home state, Bayelsa and later governor between 1999 and 2007. He was elected vice president in 2007, became acting president in 2010 and president from 2010 till date. He leaves office on May 29, 2015. As president, Mr. Jonathan has been the leader of the PDP since 2010.

However, under him the party’s popularity nosedived. In 2013, for the first time in the party’s history, five governors dumped the party for the opposition in one fell-swoop, a development that compelled many to describe the president as being politically naïve. Not many were surprised the way he was going anyway. Out of power, beginning from May 29, Mr. Jonathan, who is likely to retire to his village, Otuoke (in Bayelsa State) or Port Harcourt, where he spent his adult life before going into politics, would remain a member of the PDP. It is unthinkable that he would defect to another party.

Therefore, he is expected to play a major role in restructuring the party into a formidable opposition force. However, playing this role may be difficult for the president as he might be busy with international engagements. It is expected that by conceding defeat the manner he did and presumably conducting credible elections, international bodies might give him key assignments from time to time. Mr. Jonathan will also be one of those with deep pockets to revamp the soon-to-be-opposition party.

But there are those who believe that Mr. Jonathan does not have the charisma and the political sagacity to provide effective leadership for the party. However, in the absence of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo from the party, Mr. Jonathan will definitely become the number one personality in the party. He is likely to assume the position of chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees in the months ahead.

2. David Mark: He is the outgoing Senate President. Mr. Mark, 67, is another beneficiary of the PDP structure. Before the return of democracy, Mr. Mark, a retired army brigadier-general, had been military governor of Niger State and communications minister. He has been in the Senate on the platform of the party since 1999. He chaired the Committee on Banking and Currency in the Senate.

In 2007, he became the Senate President. He is perceived to have performed creditably in that position. Since he assumed office, stability has returned to the upper legislative chamber. Mr. Mark, who won election for the fifth time in the March 28 election to represent Benue South Senatorial District, has already given indications that he would not leave the PDP. “I have heard by way of rumour in the social media that I am decamping to APC. Social media is awash with that. If I will be the last man standing I will remain in PDP,” Mr. Mark said at a church service to mark his birthday earlier this month.

“The rumour is just an unnecessary fabrication and I even heard that one of the papers yesterday had it as headline. The media men must please make sure they investigate cases before they begin to publish it. Nobody has spoken to me from APC. I have no reasons whatsoever to leave PDP, no reasons. I have risen to where I am on the platform of PDP. PDP has a manifesto and I believe in it.”

Describing those who are leaving the PDP as fair weather friends of the party, Mr. Mark said, “When PDP bounces back in few years in the next couple of elections or next election they will come back again to PDP.”

Clearly, Mr. Mark has enormous resources that he could deploying in helping the party get back on its feet. He has the charisma and is regarded as one of the wisest men in the party told. He has in the recent past helped in the resolving intra-party crisis and reconciling party members across the country.

3. Godswill Akpabio: He is the outgoing governor of the oil-rich Akwa Ibom, a state he claimed to have “uncommonly transformed”. The 53-year old Mr. Akbabio however became a force to reckon with when he became Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum in 2013. He recently won election to the Senate to represent Akwa Ibom North West. Although he will be in the opposition in the upper legislative chamber, Mr. Akpabio will certainly play a key role in repositioning the PDP, especially the huge financial warchest he is believed to have amassed over the years.

4. Sule Lamido: He is…read more….

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