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The former state chief executives were also said to be forming a pressure group that would protect their interests in the new government.
A PDP national official told reporters that at least eight of them have been nominated for Ministerial positions while they have also put their weights behind one of their own and former Governor of Benue state, Senator–elect George Akume, for the President of the Senate.
Among former governors said to be on the Ministerial nomination list are Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Donald Duke (Cross River), Samuel Egwu (Ebonyi), James Ibori (Delta), Adamu Muazu (Bauchi), Achike Udenwa (Imo) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi).
But the former governors may not have an easy ride the inclusion of Udenwa’s name on the list, for instance, is already causing ripples in Imo state PDP.
Yar’Adua had given new PDP governors till yesterday to submit three names representing senatorial districts for ministerial positions.
According to information, almost all the governors included their former governors.
On the discord already brewing in the Imo PDP, reporters gathered that Udenwa included his name rather than submit that of the former Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, Eze Festus Odimegwu.
Odimegwu was said to be the candidate for Orlu Senatorial district but the former governor substituted Odimegwu’s name for his own when his bid to get the Senatorial seat for the zone failed.
It was also gathered that the name of Dr Alex Obi, submitted for Owerri zone may also not be going down well with the people of the area because his area, Mbaise, already produced the senator-elect, Mrs. Chris Anyanwu.
In Okigwe zone, the governor sent in the name of Engineer Charles Ugwu, who the state’s party officials kicked against because he could not command enough votes during the primaries last December but was foisted on the state by the party’s big wigs.
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