…As support for Sen. Mark thickens…Zoning of NWC position is illegal – Chieftain
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
As the National Convention of The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) draws closer, it’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting is set to adopt the zoning formula proposed by the Gov. Ugwuanyi Zoning Committee during it’s 94th NEC meeting today (Thursday).
In a communique read at the end of the meeting of the committee on zoning in Abuja, the chairman of the committee, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State said that the committee took its decision in respect of the zoning arrangement enshrined in the party’s constitution which is in compliance with the spirit of fairness, justice and equity.
He said, “The decision of the PDP zoning committee is in line with the constitution of the party on zoning and rotation of party and national offices in the interest of justice, equity and fairness.
“Consequently, the current offices being held by officers in the Southern zones of the country, namely, South-West, South-East and South-South zones , should swap places with the offices currently in the Northern zones of Nigeria, namely, North-West, North-East and North-Central zones,” he said.
Following this declaration, the North is expected to produce the national treasurer, national woman leader, national organizing secretary, national legal adviser and national youth leader while the offices of the national secretary, national publicity secretary, national financial secretary, national auditor and national woman leader go the way of the South at the October 31st national convention.
Our correspondent learnt that the North Central may produce the National Chairman, Treasurer and Youth Leader and former President of the Senate, David Mark is the favoured candidate for the plum Job while former Niger state governor, Bàbangida Aliyu is also on the list including former Kaduna State governor, Sen. Ahmed Mararfi who though not from the zone is also being wooed to join in the race.
The committee it was learnt, presented the report to the National Working Committee which it has adopted as a working toll and will further presented to the 94th Emergency NEC of the party.
However, the proposal has generated series of disagreements as some PDP stakeholders are kicking against it.
With an eye on producing the next Presidential candidate of the party, some leaders from the North are mounting pressure on the party’s leadership to reject the zoning arrangement proposed by the Ugwuanyi-led committee.
They argued that the governors are bent on hijacking the party, alleging that majority of PDP governors who are from the South, voted in favour of zoning national chairman of the party to the North, a development that may have shut out the northern zone from contesting the nation’s presidency.
On the contrary, others argued that zoning of NWC positions is in consistent with PDP constitution which has made provisions for any member of the NWC to seek re-election for a second tenure.
“The decision of the committee to zone the Chairmanship and other positions contravene the constitution. To make the matter worst, they allocated it to another zone against that of the present occupant, making it impossible for any officer to seek re-election.
“It may also interest you to note that zoning of the position of NWC is alien to the constitution. The only thing that is captured in the party’s constitution is the zoning of the Presidency, Vice Presidency.
“Hence zoning of NWC position is illegal and against the constitution of the party” said a chieftain of the party who does not want his name to be mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Ugwuanyi-led committee has stated that it does not have the mandate to zone the position of the President.
