2023: PDP Has Abandoned Zoning, Presidential Race Thrown Open, Says Party Sources
- There are indications that the PDP will not zone its presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections
- Some southern governors have been angling for the party to zone the ticket to the three regions ahead of the presidential primary election
- Sources within the party say the zoning committee headed by Governor Samuel Ortom has thrown the race open
FCT, Abuja - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning committee has thrown open the race for the presidential ticket of the party to all regions of the country ahead of its presidential primary.
The decision was taken on Tuesday, April 5 after a meeting of the committee at the party's headquarters in Abuja.
Source: Facebook
After three meetings in the last two weeks, a source who is a member of the 37 man zoning committee told the Daily Post newspaper that the Governor Samuel Ortom-led committee has also recommended that the ticket be open.
The source said after the over three hours meeting in Abuja:
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“We have resolved that the ticket be thrown open. This will allow those who have bought forms to contest.”
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ortom said:
“We have just finished our meeting, after we rose from our meeting last week, today we decided that we would meet, and by the grace of God, we have unanimously adopted a position that will be sent to the National Executive Committee (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 every one of us, the 37 members unanimously adopted the position that we are going to present to NEC.”
Arise TV journalist, Rufai Oseni also confirmed the news on his Twitter handle.
Reacting to the news, a former spokesman of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh wrote on Facebook:
“Thank you our distinguished 37 wise men. It is all over. Indeed you have chosen reasoning over sentiment, progress over personal ambition, and party unity over the lure of monetary inducement.
“The next campaign is to canvass for southeast consensus. Yes, we do not have the numbers, yes our members have chosen to be loud-mouthed and aggressive instead of pursuing diplomatic engagements.
“But please look unto our three aspirants, consider their personal competence, capacity, and merit. Do not visit the sins of the children on the fathers. Our aspirants rank among the best.
“In the alternative, the PDP should conduct an open debate for all the aspirants. Our best is good enough for the party and good enough for the nation.
“In the end, it is all about the PDP; the only true national party; the only party that is not personalised or appropriated by any cabal; the only party founded by the liberators of the nation from military hands, and the party ready to emancipate us all from economic and security imbroglio.”
2023: Consensus candidacy best for PDP's unity, says Saraki
Recall that a former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, recently said all PDP presidential hopefuls from the north were working for a consensus candidate to foster desired unity in the country.
Saraki disclosed this in Delta state on Monday, April 4 when he led other aspirants, on a consultative visit to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at Government House, Asaba.
The delegation included Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and former Managing Director of FSB International Bank Plc, Alhaji Mohammad Hayatu-Deen.
Obasanjo to Nigerians: Don’t vote aspirants claiming youths bought forms for them
In a related development, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked Nigerians not to vote for presidential aspirants claiming that some political or youth groups bought their nomination forms for them.
Obasanjo made the comment in Lagos during a colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of Pastor Itua Ighodalo saying:
“Anybody who would come out to tell you such a lie, you shouldn’t vote for him. Which youths gathered N40million? If you want to buy it, buy it and tell us. You don’t need to lie to us.”
Source: Legit.ng
