Until the recent defections of the immediate past governor of Kwara State and senator representing Kwara central in the National Assembly, Bukola Saraki and his groups, the anatomy of State PDP was in firm control of the scion of Saraki dynasty.

But since the centre can no longer hold for the ruling PDP in the State of Harmony, the remnants in the party have broken into different factions and groups, each with its separate leaders. Interestingly, Kwara central is mostly hit by this phenomenon.

They include the 2011 governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mohammed Dele Belgore (MDB), SAN, an Abuja business mogul, Hajia Bola Muinat Sagaya, senatorial flag bearer of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Princess Bilikisu Gambari/Abdulrahaman Abdulrasak, Alhaji L.A.K. Jimoh, Alada, chairman, Federal Character Commission (FEC), Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, and Senator Gbemisola Saraki among others.

Kwara north parades former senator who represented the district, Baba Zurouk, two term House of Representatives member, Hon. Yinusa Yahaya, Alhaji Yamman Abdullahi, Abubakar Ndakene and former Minister for Sports, Alhaji Isa Bio Ibrahim.

The list is endless in Kwara south. They are the immediate past deputy governor in the state, Chief Joel Ogundeji, senator representing the district in the National Assembly from 2005 till date, Simeon Sule Ajibola. Others who queued behind Ajibola as a zonal leader include, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, chairman, Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (Rtd), the immediate past Speaker in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Mohammed, Col. Abdulwhab Lawal and Chief Samuel Adedayo.

The rest are Arc. Lola Ashiru, Chief Yekeen Alabi, Chief John Dara, Chief Bode Ojomu, Dr. Femi Ogunsola, Chief Jide Awoniyi, Barr. Moses Ibiyemi, Chief Henry Olaosebikan, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo and Chief Rex Olawoye among others.

The PDP appears to be ‘leaderless’ in the state as there is no identifiable leader that can either serve as a rallying point or can give directives to the party. It is only in Kwara south that Ajibola emerged as a consensus leader in the zone. The two other senatorial districts of Kwara central and north are divided along different factions.

There are ominous signs that all is not well with the party in the State as its fragile peace is being threatened by manifestations of rancor consequent upon who should lead the PDP towards 2015 polls.

Shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan visit to the State to authenticate the veracity or otherwise of PDP’s popularity in Kwara following the exit of Saraki’s group, and the subsequent sack of the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party members took themselves to cleaners over replacement for the embattled ‘Omoluabi’.

Since Abdullahi was dropped from the federal cabinet, different interest groups within the PDP have begun clandestine moves to get members of such groups considered for the ministerial slot. It is obvious that members are working at cross purposes. Some of the political gladiators within the party have introduced ethnicity into the nomination process with a view to ensuring that the ministerial slot is zoned to either Kwara central or north.

Those eyeing the plum seat include Gbemisola Saraki, Princess Bilikisu Gambari, MDB, Yinka Aluko and Bio Ibrahim. But unconfirmed report said the responsibility of picking Abdullahi’s successor may have rested squarely on a billionaire business woman and a close associate of the first lady, Patience Dame Jonathan, Hajia Sagaya.

Apparently confirming this speculation, Sagaya led a delegation of State PDP to the Presidency last week where all the three senatorial districts in the State were proportionately represented. It was gathered that 16 members from each of the zones were initially penciled down for a parley with Mr. President. But the leader of the delegation was said to have increased the number of her zone (Kwara central) to 50 which was seen as a ‘betrayal’ by the remaining senatorial districts.

A source close to the party also hinted that two names were forwarded as ministerial nominees from the State. They were Gbemisola Saraki and Dele Belgore from Kwara central. The list, the source added, do not curry the favor of the likes of Sagaya, Bio Ibrahim and even some pioneer PDP members from Kwara central zone.

While Bio’s camp, it was gathered, is rooting for the emergence of a nominee from Kwara north, the pioneer PDP members were of the opinion that the new entrants into the party should not be imposed on them as a Minister representing the State in the federal cabinet.

Another factor is that some party members who are loyal to Hajia Sagaya are banking on her connection and cordial relationship with the office of the first lady of the federation to have a Kwara central person nominated as Abdullahi’s replacement.

But rumour making round hinted that Sagaya may prefer her blood brother and a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. AbdulFatah Salman or the former Security Adviser to ex-Governor Bukola Saraki who was later inherited by the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration, Yinka Aluko to either Gbemisola Saraki or Dele Belgore.

Aside the issue of ministerial slot that appears tearing the party apart, there is another crisis of confidence among the members in the three components which made up the state. The southern senatorial district of the party recently accused an Abuja based business woman of hijacking the party structures in the state.

PDP chieftains from Kwara south who met at Isapa in Ekiti local government area of the state leveled allegation of marginalization and domineering tendencies against Hajia Sagaya as they frowned at her alleged ambitious moves.

The parley held at the country home of Senator Ajibola, reviewed the recent visit of Mr. President to the state, the need to move the party forward through registration of more party members, preparation for the various congresses, supporting the re-election bid of Mr. President and the need to fight the menace of marginalization within the party.

“The party stalwarts resolved to fight this ugly trend and nip it in the bud in the interest of the party in the state. A situation where the Kwara south PDP would be stampeded into supporting any selfish business intention of an individual against the collective interest of the party and the general good of the society would definitely not be tolerated”, they maintained.

After a heated and extensive discussion, the party leaders from the district came up with the following resolutions; “declared unflinching support for and to work for the re-election of Mr. President in 2015 presidential polls.

“Henceforth, there must be equal representation in all ramifications of party activities amongst the three senatorial districts in the State. It noted with disdain and regret, the marginalization of the district in the constitution of a seven-man party committee and the activities of the party during Mr. President’s visit.

“We totally reject this impostor as the purported leader of the PDP in Kwara. In fact, she is definitely not our leader. In all her sinister moves, the undercurrent hands of the former Governor of the State, Senator Bukola Saraki could be seen and felt in all her activities arising from a robust and friendly relationship with Hajia Sagaya.

“The leadership of the party in the senatorial district decided to send a powerful delegation to the national leadership of the party and the Presidency to protest this ugly trend”.

Political analysts are quick to observe that lack of acceptable PDP leader in the state may be its undoing as the nation marches towards another election year. “There is always strength in unity. The way PDP is handling its things in the state is worrisome. For as long as members cannot submerge their personal ego for collective interest, opposition party will continue to rule the state. Except it puts its house in order, electoral victory at the polls will continue to elude it”, analyst stressed.

But the chairman, Publicity committee of the party in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Mariam Alhassan debunked any crisis arising from ministerial nominees from the state as well as any crisis of confidence in the PDP.

In a statement made available to Daily Newswatch, he described the insinuation making round that Kwara PDP is torn apart over ministerial slot as “untrue, malicious, unwarranted and mischief by some foes who are threatened by the party’s success stories in the state.

“For us in Kwara, PDP will remain united, focused  and dedicated to the achievements of the goals we have set in the search for freedom for Kwarans in a short while, indeed, we are on course.

“Three different gatherings held recently had further indicated the course for which our party stood for as all stakeholders in the state contributed immensely to the success story. To this end, what bind us together predates ministerial nomination period and we shall not relent in our efforts until we see Kwarans free from their present status orchestrated by the Dr. Bukola Saraki-led political structures”.

The implication of this unfolding drama in a build up to 2015 general election in the state is, if not checkmated; the next year polls may be a work over for the main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) unless the PDP puts its house order.