The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed have emerged top out of its poll to pick a consensus candidate of northern extraction as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s standard bearer in the next election.
The Convener of the Forum, Ango Abdullahi told newsmen in Minna that both Saraki and Bala would decide on who become the flag bearer among them.
He said Saraki and Bala emerged out of the four aspirants that presented themselves for the contest.
The aspirants include Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Saraki and Bala, while another contender from the zone, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar failed to participate in the exercise.
“In the first phase, the opinions of six distinguished persons each from the three geopolitical zones were sought with regards to each of the four aspirants. Each of the zonal delegates was allocated two votes to choose the first and second choice making a total of 36 votes overall,” Ango.
“One of the elders deferred his votes on grounds of continuing consultations with traditional rulers and other major stakeholders. Two members did not cast their second ballots bringing the total to 32 votes cast out of 36.
“The outcome of the consultation was as follows: Aminu Tambuwal had seven votes, 10 votes for Bala Mohammed, 10 votes for Bukola Saraki and five votes for Mohammed Hayatu-deen.
“For the purpose of this exercise, it is hereby resolved that Governor Bala Mohammed from the North-East and former Senate President Bukola Saraki from the North-Central be presented as the northern consensus candidates for the moment.
“The successful aspirants are hereby urged to work together to make allowance for further consultations to foster understanding among themselves and the PDP community to ensure a rancour-free primaries in which all eligible candidates would be free to exercise their right.”
