As the Mallam Adamu Ciroma -led NPLF Committee made final round of preparations toward the naming   of a Northern PDP consensus candidate this week, Newsdiaryonline gathered that the committee encountered an unusual hurdle in the past week.Sources said the Ciroma- led committee found out that President Goodluck Jonathan had been plotting to meet with the northern PDP presidential aspirants individually ahead of the NPLF decision.The four  aspirants from the north are Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Mohammed Aliyu Gusau  Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State.

This move by the Jonathan  was  swiftly interpreted to mean that the president might be taking steps to divide the northern aspirant.So the NPFL waded in and took control of the process leading to the aspirants’ forthcoming meeting with Jonathan.

Newsdiaryonline learnt that the NPLF has  insisted that the meeting with Jonathan must take place with all the aspirants at the same time and venue.In addition, it was learnt that there will be observers who will be admitted into the venue.This is perhaps to avert any misrepresentation of event .

Of course the idea of a meeting with the aspirants is said to have split the Jonathan camp as  some of the president’s supporters believe it may be interpreted as a sign of weakness.

It was also learnt that contrary to the impression that the meeting with Northern aspirants will hold at the Presidential Villa in Abuja ,the agreement  between Jonathan and the northern aspirants is that  it will hold at a neutral ground.Newsdiaryonline has not been able to confirm where the meeting will hold as it  is yet to be disclosed .

In spite of reports that  that  Jonathan may have called for the meeting, some of the president’s  allies  are alreading weaving a spin around  the issue and they claim it is the northern aspirants who have been seeking a `soft- landing for themselves’

Said one source ``I think it is time for them  to negotiate for a soft landing.This is what they ought to have done from the beginning by negotiating with the President for whatever interest they think the North wants to protect.It is better  for them to negotiate because their threat cannot stop Jonathan’’.

According to this source who is an unrepentant supporter of President Jonathan, ``there is nothing like the northern interest these people want to protect.It is also clear to us that there are other credible voices from the north  who can advance the interest of the North.I think it is dawning on these aspirants that their threats will not take them anywhere and they are trying to seek a soft landing.’’ Most of Jonathan’s supporter dismiss the claim that Northern aspirant can stop Jonathan at the PDP primaries.

But a source close to one of the northern aspirants described the claim that northerners asked for this meeting with Jonathan  as untrue.``No no no no, it was the president’s idea and we suspect he wanted to divide the northern aspirants by initially seeking to meet with them individually; but the NPLF got wind of the plot and chose to drive the process to an acceptable direction’’the insider said.

The northern PDP aspirants who believe the president should not contest say they are determined to defeat Jonathan. Whether a northern candidate can actually dislodge the incumbent remains to be seen .But Ciroma and his committee members believe whoever emerges as the Northern candidate will proceed to win the PDP ticket and hopefully become the next president.It is therefore not surprising that all eyes are on Ciroma and his men.

Newsdiaryonline learnt that the Ciroma led  NPLF committee met   with the four  northern aspirants today .As the story was being crafted it was learnt that the meeting was either in progress or has been concluded.``In fact as  this afternoon , I think they  have finished holding a meeting with them,’’ newsdiaryonline was told.But no insight was given into the meeting.

After the meeting with the aspirants, then the last thing will be the selection of the chosen candidate .But it is believed the meeting with the aspirants would afford everyone an opportunity to receive the progress report and prepare the aspirants’ minds for the final decision.

According to an insider, Mallam Adamu has told  those who are curious before today’s meeting with the aspirants  that even `himself does not know who the chosen candidate is  until a final decision is taken.’ This is to ensure the integrity of the selection process, newsdiaryonline was told.No one could tell where the pendulum will swing as the Ciroma committee has been keeping its decision  ``close to its chest.’’

This has given rise to last minute speculations.A Newsdiaryonline source also said  the Ciroma led committee may  finally vote in such a manner that nobody would know who voted for who and the result will be announced transparently.It is expected  that by Monday or Tuesday this week, a final decision will be made public.Whether the final decision will actually be made in Abuja or Kaduna remains however a matter of speculation, but an insider said Abuja may be the choice as there is a deliberate attempt to shift emphasis from the  regional  to the national headquarters.