2023: We Have Not Zoned Our Presidential Ticket – PDP

By Adesina Soyooye

As the wrangling and the politics of zoning the Presidential seat rage, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has emphasised that it has not zoned it to any region yet.

The impression that the Party has zoned it to the South became strong when the PDP, during its recent National Convention, elected Dr Iyorchia Ayu, from Benue State, its  National Chairman.

Unless Ayu is an interim Chairman, no one zone holds the position of the President and Chairman of the party at the same time since the formation of the PDP and APC.

As the 2023 General Elections draw near, the politics of zoning has taken the centre stage. Across political parties, many agree that the Presidential seat should be conceded to the South after  President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.

In the North, a number of high profile politicians, including the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, agree that it should go South.

A couple of months ago, the Southern Governors Forum, at a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, insisted on the Presidential seat going South. The Forum re-emphasised that recently.

This other day, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige, disclosed that even though it was not written down, at the formation of the All Progressives Cogress, APC, it was agreed that power should be rotated between the North and the South.

Without making it official yet, it seems the APC has concluded plans to zone it to the South. In the PDP, nobody knows what to expect, especially,  as the PDP strong man, Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, on January, 1, 2022, broke ranks with his Southern colleagues, and publicly threw his weight behind Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State Governor, who has declared interest in the Presidential office.

In the South-east, a zone which is crying marginalization, and seriously canvassing for the seat, only former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, PDP,  has publicly declared interest, and seriously working towards it.

It is, however, based on Wike’s support for Bala, and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar’s interest in the seat which he unsuccessfully vied for in 2019, that not a few people now think that the PDP has zoned it to the North.

But in a statement  on Saturday, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said it has not zoned the office of the President.

PDP: “For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP emphatically and unequivocally states that it has not zoned its Presidential ticket to any part of the country.”

Following is the full text of the statement:

“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to comments and speculations from certain individuals claiming that our Party has zoned its Presidential ticket to a particular part of the country.

“This is completely misleading as it does not, in any way, represent the position of our Party.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP emphatically and unequivocally states that it has not zoned its Presidential ticket to any part of the country.

“The PDP is a political party founded on democratic principles and every action of the Party, including zoning, is based on extensive consultations, discussions and consideration of all the issues as well as the various tendencies and interests across the nation, with the main objective of ensuring that the unity, peaceful co-existence and development of our nation are reinforced and promoted.

“The PDP, therefore, urges Nigerians, our teeming members and supporters to completely disregard the unfounded zoning claims as being peddled. Our Party also cautions those behind the claims to desist forthwith.

“The PDP thanks Nigerians across board for the overwhelming interest they have in our Party as their sure platform to Rescue and Rebuild our nation from misrule, and urges them to remain united and focused as we join forces for the task ahead.”