By Ayodele Oni
The decision of Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), to zone the Party’s Chairmanship to the North may have jeopardized the Presidential dream of some members that are eyeing 2023 to realize their ambition.
The biggest casualty of this decision is former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who had attempted thrice to clintch the position of the number one position.
Atiku, who served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo had once decamped to the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) but was defeated in the Primary which incumbent President Mohamadu Buhari won.
The former Vice President won the PDP ticket at the convention which was held in Port Harcourt in 2019, but was defeated in the general election by incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
His legal escapades to reclaim the mandate ended at the Supreme Court, which affirmed the victory of the APC candidate.
With the latest decision to zone the National Chairmanship to the North, there are indications that the dream of Atiku to rule the country may have been finally laid to rest.
PDP Governors at their meeting in Abuja on Wednesday voted for the zoning of the party Chairmanship to the North. The meeting voted 9-3 in favour of the North.
Three Northern Governors — Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) — voted for the Chairmanship to be zoned to the south.
Mohammed had announced his intention to run for President in 2023.
Only one northern governor, Samuel Ortom (Benue), voted for the Chairmanship to be in the North.
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto state (north) and Chairman of the PDP Governors forum, did not vote as he presided over the meeting.
He too is believed to be eyeing the Presidential ticket, having ran unsuccessfully in the party primary in 2019.
The other PDP Governors who voted in favour of Northern Chairmanship are: Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).
Apart from Atiku, the likes of the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Sokoto State Governor Tambuwal that contested for the position in 2018, may be jolted by the Governors decision.
Only few days ago, Northern Governors’ Forum had insisted on jettisioning any form of zoning of the President to any part of the country, which they described as unconstitutional.
This position has received criticisms from various parts of the country with different socio political groups and party Chieftains describing the stand of the Governors from the North as selfish.
The decision of the PDP Governors on the zoning is expected to be transmitted to another Committee on zoning at the National convention, scheduled to take place on October 30 and 31 in Abuja. The National Convention of the party is slated for October 30 and 31 in Abuja.
