The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was in power for 16years and now an opposition, is considering fielding young candidates for the forthcoming Bayelsa and Kogi elections in its desire to rebrand the party and get young people to become the new faces of the party. The party can best be described at the moment as a party that is bleeding and in need of redemption. Nigerians have lost hope in the party haven ruled for 16 years with a history of broken promises and haphazard performance. Many Nigerians see the party as that of looters and old crooks not to be trusted. The massive onslaught against the party by the new ruling party, APC is another factor responsible for the poor perception about the PDP. The APC is a party of young and vibrant ideas as exemplified by their involvement of young people in their presidential and generation election campaign. The APC recognizes the place of the Nigerian youth and were greatly rewarded by the youth as majority of them mobilized for change during the last election.

The PDP National Working Committee and the Board of Trustees has woken up to the painful reality that Nigerians will no longer trust the same old politicians within its fold and as such they must evolve new ways to communicate, reach-out and get the support of the Nigerian people, and as such have decided to strategically position young people with good name to become the new faces of the party. It was gathered that the former president Goodluck Jonathan has also advised the party to consider fielding younger candidates in forthcoming elections of Bayelsa and Kogi and ensure they make provisions for some influential and brilliant young people in the BOT and the NWC at the next year’s Extraordinary Congress Election when new officials of the party are to be elected. Many elders within the party have now accepted the fact that they need to give the younger ones within the party some major roles and advised the party to zone at least 5 positions of the NWC to young people and another 5 of the BOT to them following the appointments of Rinsola Abiola, Ismaeel Ahmed and Jasper Azuatalam, 3 young people into BOT of the APC in furtherance to giving young people a strong voice within the party. The NWC on its part has agreed to allow the younger generation to take over Party Registration and Membership drive as they believe the youth within the party can get millions of Nigerians to once again have confidence in the party and join the party. They have also agreed that young people within the party to setup a robust online platform to include Online Membership Registration.

One of the greatest challenges the PDP has always had is the issue of imposition of candidates on the party, which makes it impossible for young party members to secure party tickets or even have the courage to contest for elective positions. With the new development within the party, more young people will be able to contest for elective positions within the party. The immediate benefeciaries of this new policy of the party might be two young men within the party who are contesting to become governors of their respective states, Moses Siloko Siasia who is contesting to be governor of Bayelsa State and Mohammed Ali running to be governor of Kogi State.

The potential candidates:

Moses Siasia (35 years old)

Moses Siloko Siasia, from Sagabama LGA, the 35year old young leading light of Nigeria was named as one of the 200 Young African Economic Leaders for Tomorrow by Choiseul, a renowned French Institute in their 2014 ranking. Parisian institute describes Siasia as a young African leader who is reshaping the continent’s economic scene. It said men like Siasia embody the vigour and renewal of an entire continent and carry the hopes of an entire generation.

Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia is the Chairman of Mosilo Group, with huge investments in Engineering, Real Estate, Oil & Gas, Agro Processing and Project Management. The Group is a wholly owned indigenous Company with strategic partnership with some of the world’s leading technical Companies. The Group has employed over 400 young people and has continued to up the ante in human capacity development locally, with offices in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and United States.

He is the Chairman/Founder of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, a non-governmental organisation made up of primarily young, dynamic and upwardly mobile individuals with innovative ideas that is aiding Nigeria’s development. Siasia conceived the NYPF as a platform for the development of young professionals in Nigeria through quality educational programs, national and global networking and leadership opportunities, the group has united over 7million young professionals globally with presence in 15 countries. A lawyer by profession. He is running under the platform of the PDP and has attracted lots of grassroot support most especially the youths and women. His candidacy will bring a lot of credibility to the party and make Nigerians believe that PDP is ready for rebranding.

Mohammed Ali (39 years old)

From Dekinah LGA, immediate past LGA Chairman. The governor dissolved the LGA suddenly to frustrate him politically. He has the support of many LGA Chairmen in the state. He was the Secretary National Association of Kogi State Students NAKOS 2002-2004, then became the President of NAKOS from 2004-2005. Became Special Adviser, Student Affairs to former governor Ibrahim Idris, then Liasion Officer 1 of Dekinah LGA and later elected substantive Chairman of the LGA. When he was Chairman of the LGA, he was elected as the Chairman of the Northern Local Government Forum which compromises of 419 LG Chairmen. He coordinated the 419 LGAs for Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidential Campaign for 2015. Now he is aspiring to govern Kogi State. He is a graduate of Bayero University, kano. He is an Economist. Has a Masters Degree in Economics with option of Petroleum and Energy Economics. A new generational leader. He has the support and network of all youth within the age bracket of 30-45years old in all the 21 LGAs of the state. Since he declared his intention to run for governor in the state, the PDP that was almost dying in the state has come back to life because the younger generation see his declaration as an opportunity for them. Many who have lost hope in the party have started to once again believe in her. His candidacy will seriously help the PDP in the State as it will rebrand their already battered image. If the PDP decides to give Mohammed Ali the ticket, it will be an easy ride for the party in the forthcoming election.

Oluwapelumi