Presidency: Crisis looms in PDP as southern governors insist on zoning

Governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the South are insisting that the presidential ticket of the party must be zoned to the region.

The governors said this after a meeting that lasted over three hours at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, on Friday night.

• Bandits take over Taraba villages, forcefully sleep with housewives
• Blame no one for the impunity of the terrorists

This is also as PDP presidential aspirants from the South East have resolved to work together to ensure that one of them emerges as the party’s flag-bearer.

They said that for equity and justice, “We feel the best thing to do is zone the presidency to the South, and we stand on that position.”

The governors that met in Abuja were Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

Ikpeazu, who is the vice chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, spoke on behalf of his counterparts, arguing that those against zoning have not actually told anyone “why zoning will not give us victory.”

On arguments that the ticket was made open because of the number of aspirants that had purchased forms or the need to retain ticket in the North, Ikpeazu said the party must be firm in its decision and do whatever is seen to be true and fair.

At separate meetings in Lagos and Delta last year, southern governors had demanded that the presidency should be zoned to the region.

The latest agitation of the governors is coming after indications that the 37-member zoning committee set up by the 95th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party had decided to throw open the presidential ticket.

Meanwhile, PDP presidential aspirants from the South East also met yesterday and resolved to work together to ensure that one of them emerged as the flag-bearer of the party. 

The aspirants numbering four – Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Anyim Pius Anyim,  Peter Obi and Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze, also said it was the turn of other zones in the country to support the South East, which supported other zones in the past. 

Speaking after their meeting in Abuja, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, flanked by the other three aspirants said, “We have agreed to work together as a team. We will work together to ensure that a southeasterner emerges as PDP’s flag-bearer for the 2023 presidential election.