April 05, (THEWILL) – Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary election slated for 28th May 2022, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom-led zoning committee have thrown the Presidential ticket open
The Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), had at its 95th meeting, set up a 37-man committee with a mandate to recommend to the party whether to zone the 2023 Presidential ticket or not, among other elective offices.
With members drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the party argues that the committee would come up with a position acceptable to its members particularly in the zoning of elective offices.
Addressing newsmen at the end of the Committee’s meeting on Tuesday, Ortom said, “by the Grace of God, we have unanimously adopted a position that will be sent to the NEC of our party that appointed us.
“The good news for teeming 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.”
Although Ortom was reticent about the zoning formula, THEWILL gathered that the committee would urge NEC to fling open the Presidential race to all aspirants, irrespective of their zones.
A top party source, familiar with the recommendations, under condition of anonymity, said the committee threw open the ticket “due to exigency of time” saying “zoning, as in our party constitution, is affirmed.”
Also, a document of the committee’s recommendation, cited by PUNCH, titled, “Recommendations of PDP Zoning Committee”, reads:
“1. Zoning, as in our party constitution, is affirmed.
“2. Inspite of (1) above, (the) Ticket is thrown Open, this time around due to exigency of time.
“3. Our Party is encouraged to always make the issue of zoning very clear at least 6 months before sales of forms.
“4. Our Party should commend the efforts of some of our contestants on the issue of consensus candidacy; the efforts should be seen to a peaceful and logical conclusion.”
Another senior party source, who spoke shortly after the meeting said the party would throw open the presidential ticket rather than restrict it to a region.
The source said, “Reference was made to the 10 states with the highest turnout of voters in the 2019 elections. Of these 10, nine were Northern states and only Lagos made the list. Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina had the highest voter turnout, while Lagos came a distant fourth.
“Aspirants should be allowed to test their popularity at the primary election, but if they choose to adopt a consensus approach, that will be acceptable to the party. It is a position every member of the committee was comfortable with.”
