By Myke Uzendu
Following speculations that the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has thrown it’s Presidential ticket open, the party has disclosed that no such decision has been taken.
The media had reported that PDP had adopted the report of it’s committee led by Gov. Bala Mohammed on the circumstances that led to the loss of the 2015 general election. Despite the deafening clamour that power should rotate to the South, the committee chairman a
nd governor of Bauchi State in his report recommended that the party should throw it’s Presidential ticket open to enable all candidates including northerners have a bite at the slot.
The committee, in its report had recommended that “in line with certain unwritten conventions of the nation’s history, many people think that, for fairness and equity, the North-East and South-East geo political zone that have had the shortest stints at the presidency, should be given special consideration in choosing the presidential flag bearer of the party, for the 2023 elections.
“However, we should not lose sight of the fact that Nigeria is endowed with many capable and very experienced leaders in every part of the country. Moreover, the exigencies of the moment demand that nothing should be compromised in choosing the leader with the attributes to disentangle the country from the present quagmire.
“Therefore, we think that every Nigerian, from every part of the country, should be given the opportunity to choose the best candidate, through a credible primary election as a way of institutionalising a merit-based leadership recruitment process for the country.”
However, the issue of throwing the Presidential ticket of PDP has been gaining momentum following the interest expressed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor of Bauchi State Bala Mohammed, Governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), former Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and other array of notherners for the number one position.
But speaking with NNS in a telephone conversation on Thursday, National Publicity of the PDP Hon. Debo Olugunagba said that the party is yet to take decision on the zoning of it’s Presidential ticket.
He said that the party has not taken any position on zoning and that before it does that, it must consult all the organs of the party, listen to all the sections and stake holders in the country and also relying on the provisions of it’s constitution and above all ensure that whatever decision it takes at the end if the day will be for peaceful coexistence of all the citizens of this country.
He said, “The party as at today has not taken a position on zoning. The party is governed by rules and regulations and of course by law especially the constitution of the party.
“And above that, the organs of the party will have discussion and deliberation on every issue that concerns the party including the issue of zoning.
“Now what we do is that, the various organs will discuss: the governors forum, the NWC, the caucuses in different zones at it concerns them. All these discussions will be sent to NEC and NEC will make a pronouncement as to the position of the party. When that happens, we will communicate to the whole world through your platform.
“The party believes that anybody who has the intention and is qualified is free to indicate interest”.
Some of the aspirants from the South that have indicated interest in the number one position under the umbrella include former Senate President Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Publisher of Ovation Newspaper Dele Momodu and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa while the former Anambra state Governor, Peter Obi said that he is waiting for the ticket to be zones to the South East before he will make his intentions known.
