Posted by By JAMES OMO and JACOB EDI, Abuja on
The caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday endorsed consensus candidates for the leadership of the in-coming National Assembly.
•Hon Etteh tipped as Speaker, House of Reps
The caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday endorsed consensus candidates for the leadership of the in-coming National Assembly.
Daily Sun gathered that after several hours of deliberation in Abuja, the caucus picked Senator David Mark from Benue State, as Senate President-designate, and Hon (Mrs.) Oyefoluke Etteh from Osun State, South West zone as Speaker-designate for the House of Representatives.
Members of the party were asked to accept the new leaders and ratify their nomination at the inauguration of the National Assembly by President Umar Yar'Adua.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu from Enugu, in the South East zone, was named as the Deputy Senate President, while Senator Teslim Folarin from Oyo State was named Senate Leader. Senator Ndoma Egba was tipped as deputy senate leader and Senator Kanti Bello as Chief Whip.
David Mark slugged it out for the number three position with Senators Nuhu Aliyu, Abubakar Sodangi and Gbemisola Saraki.
For the position of the chairmanship of the party, it was learnt that the PDP caucus was unable to take a definite position on it. The contenders include incumbent national secretary, Ojo Maduekwe, former national secretary, Vincent Ogbulafor, former presidential aspirant, Ike Nwachukwu, outgoing Ebonyi State governor, Dr. Sam Egwu and Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Another meeting of party leaders with Yar'Adua at the helm of affairs is expected to hold to take a final decision on who succeeds Ahmadu Ali as party chairman.
Sources at the caucus meeting hinted Daily Sun that the decision of the party to adopt a consensus candidate for positions at the National Assembly did not go down well with fresh members, especially at the lower house.
It was gathered that the party leadership agreed to compensate them with lucrative committee appointments.