Former Minister of Information and Culture, Professor Jerry Gana has disclosed that a post-convention agreement reached with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2023 to allow the South produce the Peoples Democratic Party national chairman was never honoured.
Speaking in an interview on TVC News, Gana said he called Atiku after the PDP presidential primary to discuss ways of balancing the party’s leadership structure for inclusivity and fairness.
“But now that you have won, you’ve also chosen your vice president, please allow our colleagues from the South to nominate party chairman. Believe me, they agreed but never implemented it,” Gana stated.
According to him, the proposal was meant to address concerns that both the PDP presidential candidate and the national chairman at the time were from the North, a situation that risked alienating southern stakeholders ahead of the general elections.
The elder statesman said the arrangement was straightforward and widely supported by senior party figures, as it would have demonstrated a commitment to internal equity and strengthened the PDP’s national appeal.
However, Gana lamented that despite Atiku’s verbal agreement to the plan, the party leadership failed to act on it, leaving the imbalance unresolved. He argued that this unfulfilled promise deepened distrust within the PDP and weakened its unity during the crucial election period.
Gana noted that in a country as diverse as Nigeria, honouring such gentleman’s agreements is essential for political stability, party cohesion and maintaining voter confidence.
His revelation sheds light on behind-the-scenes negotiations within the PDP and highlights how unimplemented agreements may have contributed to the party’s struggles in the 2023 presidential race.
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