Barring any last minute change, the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party may emerge from the north as the party has reportedly zoned the position to the region.
This is contrary to earlier reports that the party had zoned the position to the south west.
The party’s 44-member National Convention Committee on zoning has been meeting over the zoning of party positions ahead of the party’s convention in October.
A source close to the meeting told Franktalknow that the party finally took the decision to zone the position to the north in obedience to its total rotational arrangement as contained in its constitution.
At the meeting chaired by Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, who is the Deputy Chairman , it was learnt that majority of the committee members took the decision to zone the position to the north.
The PDP constitution stipulates a rotational arrangement whereby power rotates between the south and the north.
Section 7:3c of the party constitution stipulates that the party shall adhere to the “policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.”
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Tension had earlier gripped the party as members of its zoning committee began deliberation on zoning the party’s National Working Committee, NWC offices across the six geo-political zones.
The 44-member committee is expected to give direction to the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.
If the party zones the chairmanship position to the north, it will jeopardise the ambition of a former governor of Osun State, Ọlagunsoye Oyinlola, who has indicated interest in the slot.
It was further learnt that the committee members have been directed to communicate their decision to their respective state governors before the committee meets again next Thursday.
Analysts have shown interest in the zoning arrangement of the PDP as it is believed that it will dictate the zone from which the party is likely to pick its presidential candidate in 2023.
It was however gathered that PDP is yet to discuss the zone of its next presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee and Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has said that the committee has no mandate to zone political offices such as President or Vice President of Nigeria.
Addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting held at the Government House, Enugu, the Chairman of the Committee and Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, said that “we had a fruitful meeting and we adjourned to conclude next week”.
The governor said, “our Committee is strictly limited to the PDP National Executive Offices to be contested at the 2021 PDP National Convention scheduled for the end of October, 2021.
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“We have no mandate to zone political offices such as President or Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Gov. Ugwuanyi maintained that the PDP remains the most credible platform to deliver good and accountable governance to Nigeria, adding that the work of the committee will contribute immensely “in this deliberate search for National Officers of our Party that will help PDP achieve the lofty ideals and goals of our founding fathers”.
He therefore encouraged members of the committee to be frank, open and constructive in their proposals and debates, and also exhibit consistency with the enormity of their mandate.
“The membership and leadership of this committee have been carefully selected as it is composed of very experienced, competent and eminent Nigerians who are desirous of repositioning the PDP to play its role not just as the main opposition political party in Nigeria but to build a party that offers alternative policy proposals and hope to Nigerians that there is still light at the end of the tunnel”, Gov. Ugwuanyi said.
Members of the committee present at the meeting include the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom who is the Deputy Chairman, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed who serves as Secretary, former Presidents of the Senate, Senator Iyorchia Ayu and Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and former governors of Niger, Ekiti, Sokoto, Jigawa and Adamawa states, Dr. Muazu Aliyu Babangida, Ayodele Fayose, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, and Boni Haruna, respectively.
Others are Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, Rt. Hon. Sunday K. E Okoye, Chief Dan Orbih, Chief (Dr.) Ali Odefa, Amb. Mrs. Dr. Kema Chikwe, Chief Osita Chidoka, Barr. Chidi Lloyd, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Senator Emmanuel Nwaka and Engr. Donatus Udeh.
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