By Ayodele Oni
Ahead of the November convention, Groups and individuals within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have continued to react to the zoning formula submitted to the party by its committee on the issues.
The decision was reached at the 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party held in Abuja last month.
National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, had explained that the resolution followed the submission of a report by the Zoning Committee, chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.
Ologunagba stated, “NEC recommended that the North and South should retain their current NWC positions.
“NEC also resolved that since the National Chairman of the party is zoned to the North, the PDP 2027 Presidential ticket is hereby zoned to the South.”
A coalition of Northern presidential aspirants within the PDP has declared its position ahead of the party’s much-anticipated National Convention scheduled for November in Ibadan.
In a statement, the group vowed to throw its weight behind any National Chairmanship aspirant from the North, who openly resists the zoning of the presidential ticket exclusively to the South.
According to the coalition, zoning the presidency at this critical time would amount to “an imposition that undermines the democratic spirit of inclusiveness and fair play within the PDP.”
“The PDP has never been a party of exclusion. It has always thrived on fairness, justice, and wide consultation.
“Any move to zone the presidential ticket to the South is both undemocratic and a direct attempt to shut out qualified aspirants from the North,” the coalition spokesman, Johnbull Kadiya, said.
A Group in Ekiti state, Members of the Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim Solidarity, rejected the zoning of the presidential ticket of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), to a particular region of the country.
Rising from a meeting in Ado Ekiti, Representatives from the 16 local governments, resolved to continue mobilizing for the actualization of Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim presidential ambition, despite the zoning.
Olawepo-Hashim is from Kebbi state, North West geo political zone of Nigeria.
Addressing Newsmen after the meeting, the Group Coordinator in the state, Mr Sunday Williams, announced that zoning will only produce incompetent and ethnically biased presidential candidate for the PDP, which may cost its chances of winning in 2027.
He pointed out that zoning will close the door against nationalist and de tribalistic presidential materials, that is blessed with intimidating credentials to rule this country.
He emphasized that what Nigeria needs at present is a leader, that has the potentials and is bold to manage the country’s vast potentials and resources to better the life of average Nigerians, who are currently experiencing unprecedented level of poverty, due largely to poor economic polices and large scale corruption.
Similarly, the south west coordinator of the Group, Abass Olaniyi described zoning as ill conceived purposely to serve the interest of few cabals that are holding the PDP at the jugular.
He described Olawepo-Hashim as the president Nigeria needs now due largely to his vast experience and his readiness to serve.
Olaniyi however advised the National Working Committee, (NWC), of the PDP to create a level playing ground for all the aspirants to try their luck in a well organized primary.
According to Olaniyi, this will give room for easy post primary reconciliation among the aspirants and the winner, thereby making it easier for
party members to go to the general election with a united house .
The Group vowed to pursue the battle against the zoning to the national convention of the party which is the highest decision making organ of the PDP in November.
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