RACE FOR KADUNA PDP CHAIRMANSHIP SEAT: WHY FELIX HASSAN HYET FITS THE BILL

KINGS OFURHE, Kaduna.  Ahead of the PDP congresses at Wards, Local, State and National levels to decide who runs the affairs of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP some politicians are already indicating their intentions and determination towards reviving the PDP and lead the party out of its present position back to its winning ways.

Among the contenders for the position of state chairman, which is seen as the major contest, are two major names in the state who have attained national prominence within the party; state and national levels. They are Honourable Felix Hassan Hyet; a former Minister of State (Aviation) Transport and Barrister Mark Jacobs, onetime PDP National Legal Adviser and also, a former Director, Legal of the FAAN.

Also in the race are; three-time House of Reps member, Hon Ado Dogo, the current PDP Chairman, Hon Abubakar Gaiya Haruna and a former Jaba LGA PDP Chairman, Hon. Joseph Sahjury. 

Others in the race include: a former House of Rep member, Hon Joseph Gumbari, a former Deputy Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon Yohanna Jatau, a former Commissioner of information, Hon Ben Bako and the present PDP organizing Secretary in the state, David Gizagwai.

NAIJNEWSALERT findings have revealed that, of the lot, Hon. Hassan Hyat who is from Kachia LGA can be said to be more experienced and highly matured with cognizance acceptance from both sides of the state to lead the party.

Hyet, a grounded and experienced political leader, has held elected and several appointed offices as Chief of Staff, two times Commissioner, SSG and Minister. He was the DG Yero/Bajoga Campaign Organization in the 2015 elections.

He is seen as a bridge builder and an acceptable candidate across the three senatorial zones and, according to some of his supporters, Chief Felix Hassan Hyet has been in the political scene for a long time. “He is a grassroots politician and a great mobilizer of human and financial resources and has cordial relationship with most of the stakeholders”.

Although regarded as a political son of Hassan Hyet, Hon. Ado Dogo Audu is another of the aspirants for the PDP chairmanship position and hails from Jama'a LG council. Nicknamed Ado Hot, was a member of the House of Representative Member for three consecutive terms.

Ado Hot equally served as Commissioner for Water Resources in Kaduna State with many of his supporters insisting that he has the cognate experience with connections across the state which is a prerequisite tool for leadership of the party.

The incumbent PDP Chairman in Kaduna State, Hon. Abubakar Gaiya Haruna is also interested in seeking re-election back to office. AG Haruna as he is fondly referred to is from Kachia LGA. Many are of the belief that his chances are not too bright following the dismal outing of the party in the last elections under his leadership.

While some are of the view that he ought not to seek re-election following the party’s woeful outing in 2015, others say he did his best as a leader but that the betrayal was from supporters and there was nothing AG Haruna could have done.

Also in the contest for the Office of the PDP Chairman in the state is Hon. Joseph Sahjury from Jaba LGA. He is a former Local government Party Chairman and also, chaired Zone III and equally served as the DG Campaign of Senator Danjuma La'ah's electoral campaign before the primaries.

Sahjury’s shortcomings, according to NAIJNEWSALERT, are his lack of political acceptability and clout to lead the PDP in Kaduna state. Again, according to some stakeholders of the PDP he lacks the required charisma to guide the party.

In politics however, anything can happen despite perceived poor popularity amongst party faithful as his candidacy for the position of party chairman is said to have received the backing and blessings of his former boss, Senator Danjuma La’ah, who coincidentally, is the only PDP Senator in the NASS from the state at the moment.

Another high contender in the race is former House of Representatives member, Honourable Joseph Gumbari.

Joseph Gumbari is the incumbent PDP Chairman in Zone 3 otherwise known as Southern Kaduna. Having contested for the Senate twice without success, Gumbari is reputed to have strong followership at the grassroots and also has experience.

David Gizagwai, the current Organizing Secretary of the PDP in the state is also aspiring to become the state chairman of the party but feelers say his chances are narrow. Not many of the PDP members know him in spite of his present position within the party. He is from Kaura LGA.

Hon. Yohanna Jatau from Jaba LGA is a former member of the State Legislature where he served as the Deputy Speaker of KDSHA. What he lacks in the political acceptability, he makes up for it with his legislative experience but that is not enough to contest for the position of the PDP Chairman in Kaduna state.

Recall Honourable Ben Bako? He is the youngest aspirant among the lot. Honourable Bako was the Director General of the Late Senator Isaiah Balat’s campaign during the late Senator’s senatorial bid for the Upper Chambers of the NASS and hails from Zangon Kataf. He also served as Commissioner of Information in Kaduna State during Yero’s government.

Barrister Mark Jacob is another heavyweight for the position of PDP chair. An indigene of Zangon Kataf, Mark Jacobs is among the young minds that saw to the formation PDP in the Southern part of Kaduna State.

A former Commissioner of Justice in the state, Barrister Jacobs also was the former PDP Secretary, Northwest zone, former National Legal Adviser of the PDP and a former Director Legal, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN.

Although he aspired for the Senatorial seat for the Kaduna South Senatorial District which he lost, analysts believes that Mark Jacobs could pull some surprises in the contest.