The Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed who is the only one serving his first term among the G7 Governors that walked out of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, mini-convention last August has reportedly been marked out for punishment.
Ahmed had left with other leaders like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to the new PDP. Sources close to the national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, informed that the party has vowed that Ahmed will not be given the chance to contest the 2015 gubernatorial election in Kwara State under the umbrella of the party ‘
It will also be recalled that the factional chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje is also from Kwara State and the former Governor of Kwara State , Senator Bukola Saraki who is believed to be the godfather of Ahmed is a strong member of the new PDP.
The source said that the PDP top hierarchy is already searching for a loyal and strong PDP member from the state who will replace Ahmed. Feelers from Kwara PDP indicate that the party is beaming its searchlight on loyal PDP members who are not part of the new PDP. Two politicians are said to have been shortlisted after a thorough search which has led to the visit of the state by top hierarchy of the party from Abuja.
They are Alhaji Bio Ibrahim and Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem. Our source said the duo have indicated their interest in contesting the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state and one of them may likely emerge the PDP candidate in the election.
Alhaji Bio Ibrahim was the former Minister of Sport and he resigned from the ministerial position to aspire for the Kwara governorship office but was denied the slot by the party . Before he became the Minister, Bio was a member of the House of Representatives and a speaker of the state’s Assembly.
He is seen by political analysts in Kwara state as a formidable contender who can deliver the state to the PDP if fielded. Abdulraheem too is a former Vice –Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and was also a gubernatorial aspirant in 2011.
He was later picked as Director- General of the Fatah Ahmed Campaign Organization which successfully carried out the campaign of Ahmed to become the governor of the state.
Source: National Mirror
