Date Published: 04/02/11

IBB, Ciroma, Others to meet over possible Run-Off
…To pick another Northern Consensus Candidate

Ibrahim Babangida

Adamu Ciroma

The northern elders are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to brainstorm over who will be the ‘northern’ candidate in the event there is no clear winner in presidential elections and need for run-off.

Pointblanknews.com learnt that those expected to attend are Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Adamu Ciroma, Shettima Munguno, Lawal Keita, Abubakar Atiku, and Kanti Bello.

With the calculations, the north is banking on the fact that Jonathan would not win at the first ballot, so they are trying to agree on who to back of the three: Nuhu Ribadu, Mohammadu Buhari and Shekarau.

The winner is expected to get at least 24 states, but with the reach of the Congress For Progressive Change ( CPC), and All Nigeria peoples Party (ANPP), in the north and the Action Congress in the south west, the northern elders expect a deadlock at the first ballot.

According to our source” the northern elders want to ensure they present a common candidate if the event, Buhari, Shekarau and Ribadu get chunks of the votes. Then they are expecting votes for Jonathan would be depleted making way for a run off. So they would want to agree which of the three would fly the northern flag”

With the way things are , it is expected Buhari may come behind Jonathan, which could pose a problem because if the elders decide to settle for Ribadu or Shekarau, Buhari would not agree to step down.

This ego of Buhari ruined the proposed AC/ CPC merger, as Buhari insisted he would be the standard bearer and also both parties would adopt the CPC logo. This was obviously rejected by bola tinubu and Ribadu who see the AC as having more spread and more states in the bag.

Pointblanknews.com findings reveal that considering the reach of the PDP, and the clout of Jonathan, he would sweep clean the south south, south west, south east and north central, leaving north west and north east.

Some analysts who spoke with pointblanknews.com are of the view that with the four zones in the bag, the PDP may grab considerable votes in the north west and north central, since Buhari, Shekarau and Ribadu may have to split votes in both zones.

Said our source” with the way things are going, jonathan may benefit from this because the trio of Buhari, Ribadu and Shekarau may split votes in the far north. Don’t forget the PDP has a good following as well in the north so it may favor Jonathan, knocking off any need for run off”