by ‘Jola Sotubo

In apparent disregard for the posterity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 2015 aspirations, 8 of the party’s 23 governors have decided to register a new party, the Voice of the People (VOP).

This action further highlights the cracks within the party and this may yet jeopardize the party’s chances against rival  party the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The move is reportedly being spearheaded by embattled Rivers state Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and he is allegedly being supported by five northern Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors.

According to reports, the party, which is seeking registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, is being sponsored by eight PDP governors, while consultations are still ongoing with others with a view to expanding its membership.

Apart from Amaechi, other governors linked to the party are Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, it was learnt, is also said to have bought into the idea as well as another governor whose identity was not disclosed Sunday.

“Ahmed may have become an outsider in the PDP, given the way his predecessor and benefactor, Senator Bukola Saraki, is being treated by the federal government.

“So the best option for him is to tag along with those who share a similar fate. If there is anything that is certain, it is the fact that PDP is no longer home to people like him,” a source said last night.

Saraki is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the collapse of the defunct Societe General Bank of Nigeria (SGBN), in which his family had a stake and the former governor was an executive director of the bank.

Also, House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, is said to have been contacted but has not decided whether or not he is ready to go along with the promoters of VOP.

It was gathered that Tambuwal has been pondering his political future in view of the fact that the PDP is believed to be plotting to sound the death knell on his political future along with some other House members for being renegade members of the party.

The speaker, with the support of the lawmakers, had dealt a fatal blow to the PDP zoning formula at the inception of the current political dispensation in 2011.

In disregard for the party’s decision, which had conceded the House speakership to the southwest, Tambuwal, from the northwest, ran and won the position.

Apart from that, he is believed to reign over a lower chamber deemed confrontational by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration and may have been marked down for some punishment of sorts.

One of the sources quoted the speaker as saying that he admired the courage of the governors to take such a bold step in the face of the swirling intimidation and harassment of some political figures in the country, but he was yet to take a decision as at the time of filing this report.