….Committee will take decision to NWC – Gov. Ortom
By Myke Uzendu
The Peoples Democratic Party’s zoning committee has agreed to thrpow the party’s presidential ticket open to all zones, irrespective of the overwhelming clamour for the ticket to zone to South, The AUTHORITY has learnt.
It was earlier believed that the party, having ceded its national chairmanship position to the North would concede the presidential ticket to the South, in the spirit of zoning and rotation of power
But in what is believed to be in its quest to get a credible candidate that will win the 2023 Presidency, the party’s committee on zoning on Monday resolved to keep the ticket open to all zones, a source confided with our reporter..
However, the Chairman of the committee, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, who did not disclose the committees resolution hinted that party members will have to wait a little longer for the National Executive Committee (NEC) to ratify it’s decisions which will be communicated in due course.
The 37 member committee drawn from all the states of the Federation including the Federal Capital and chaired by Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State said that the party unnamimously took a decision which will be transmitted to NEC for ratification before it will be made public.
Speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting which held at the Benue governors lodge in Abuja on Monday, Ortom said, “We have just finished our meeting, after we rose from our meeting last week, we decided that we would meet and by the grace of God we have unanimously adopted a position that will be sent to NEC of our Party that appointed us.
“The good news for our teaming supporters of the PDP and Nigerians is that we have resolved and everyone of us, the 37 members unanimously adopted the position that we are going to present to NEC”.
But a source has disclosed that the committee after several days of political horse trading but with an eye on winning the next Presidential election, unnamimously agreed to throw the presidential ticket open.
The source said that some aspirants who doled out N40 million to purchase the Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms were on the verge of blackmailing the party if it excludes them from the zoning arrangement.
It was further learnt that to ensure that the party hits a brick wall while taking a decision on the zoning, some of the governor’s encouraged party members from their zone to pick up the forms so as to constitute critical stakeholders during the decision taking process. Some of the governor’s themselves also picked the forms to ensure that their interests are protected during the discussions.
Giving an insight into what transpired during the zoning committee meeting the source said that the committee made the following recommendations to the party’s National Working Committee (NEC).
“Zoning, as in our party constitution, is affirmed.
“Inspite of (1) above,Ticket is thrown Open, this time around due to exigency of time.
“Our Party is encouraged to always make the issue of zoning very clear at least 6 months before sales of forms.
“Our Party should commend the efforts of some our contestants on the issue of Concensus candidacy; the efforts should be seen to a peaceful and logical conclusion”.
Meanwhile, former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayise has recused himself from membership of the party because of his Presidential ambition and nominated Dr Gbenga Faseluka to take over his position.
In a letter addresses to the Chairman of the committee dated 5th April, 2022, Fayose wrote, “I write to formally appreciate the Party and all members of this committee.
“I thank you all for your statesmanship, selflessness and sense of patriotism to our party and by extension our nation in the way you have all handled and comported yourselves so far in deliberations regarding this delicate and sensitive issue/assignment, the Zoning of public offices, particularly that of the President.
“I pray the outcome will bring understanding, peace and stability to our party and our country at large.
“Having hinted during our last meeting of my intention to run for the office of the President in the coming primary election and by God’s grace; the general election, it will not be morally right to continue to participate in the zoning debate being an aspirant myself.
“Therefore, my state has nominated the bearer of this letter, Dr Gbenga Faseluka to replace me”.
Taking a position on zoning has remained one of the controversial decision threatening the cohesion of PDP.
While some are of the position that the Presidency should be zoned to the north as the last President from the party was produced by the South, others are of the view that it should tilt towards the north as the zone has produced the least number of President since 1999 while another group are of the opinion that it should be free for all.
Meanwhile about 13 Presidential aspirants have picked the Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the party.
They include Atiku Abubakar, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, Gov. Bala Mohammed, Gov. Nyesom Wike, Peter Obi and Gov. Emanuel Udom.
Others are Sen. Pius Anyim, Sen. Bukola Saraki, Pharm. Sam Ohuabunwa, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Dr. Mohammed Hayatudeen and the lone female aspirant Diana Oliver.
Recall that the trio of Saraki, Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed met with some aspirants including Atiku and other critical stakeholders in the party so as the arrive at a consensus candidate.
