The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) having denied reaching any decision over the zoning of its presidential ticket for the 2023 election.
This announcement was made to resolve the contention between major stakeholders over the recommendations.
The party’s committee on the review of the 2019 elections had suggested that the party should conduct a primary election for its Presidential ticket which led to a disagreement.
However, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP’s national publicity secretary, has indicated that it is yet to take any decision on the proposals presented by the committee.
“Due to inquiries from our members and the general public, it has become imperative to clarify that PDP is yet to adopt any of the recommendations proposed by the Bala Mohammed‘s Committee on the Review of the 2019 Elections.
“As such, it will be incongruous for anyone to assert that any decision had been taken by PDP on the zoning of the presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 general elections. Members and supporters are enjoined to note that the party is yet to take any decision on the proposals presented by the committee,” Ologbondiyan said.
The committee’s recommendation
According to Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the committee on the review of the 2019 elections, an open contest for the presidential ticket will give Nigerians a chance to choose a candidate of their choice.
He argued that the committee recommended the idea to institutionalize a merit-based leadership recruitment process for the country.
Also, Emmanuel Agbo, PDP deputy national secretary said Nigerian needs a leader who can unite all members of the country, build trust and confidence in the people.
“Nigeria is at a brink, we are at a precipice and any other little push is going to take us into some catastrophe we do not pray for.
“What Nigeria demands now is a unifier-in-chief. What the country needs now is a detribalized Nigerian, with strong character that will unify the country and above all to build trust and confidence in one Nigeria and this called to the fact that at this point,” Agbo said.
He noted that the particular situations in Nigeria formed the basis of the committee’s decision-making for the 2023 presidential election.
Igbo socio-cultural group disapproves
Unpleased with the decision, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, an apex Igbo socio-cultural group demanded the withdrawal of the report.
It argued that the committee’s suggestion is worrisome as it is capable of inflaming the passion of the patient but aggrieved part of the country.
The group noted that the rotation of the presidency between the north and south was introduced to erase doubt amongst citizens and as such, should be kept in place.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians agreed on the rotation of the presidency between the north and the south; in which case it is the turn of the south after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“For clarity purposes, both the southwest and the south-south had both taken their turns in the persons of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan respectively. It is rather very unpatriotic and a trifle on the sensibilities of the Igbo for the committee to even suggest the rotation of the presidency to the North East in the first instance and open to every part of Nigeria as a major slight,” the group said.
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