2023: Why PDP jettisoned zoning of Presidential ticket

Amidst protests and disaffection in certain quarters trailing Senator Bala Mohammed  14-man Committee recommendation which jettisoned zoning of the presidential ticket of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party in next general elections, a member of the Committee has justifed the position taken by the team.

The Committee which was constituted last February has Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed and Emmanuel Agbo, deputy national secretary as Chairman and Secretary of the Committee, respectively. It was saddled with the assignment to unravel why the PDP lost the 2019 general elections to the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that a similar Committee was set up in 2015 shortly after the general elections by the Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee with present chairman, Prince Uche Secondus as acting national chairman.

The then Committee tagged Post Election Review Committee led by former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu recommended zoning of the party presidential ticket in 2019  to the North,to placate the region  which felt shortchanged over Dr Good luck Jonathan from the South as 2015 presidential candidate.

Submitting its report last Wednesday, the Governor Mohammed Committee said merit should be a fundamental factor in the choice of the PDP presidential candidate for 2023 general elections.

The Committee noted that “in line with certain unwritten conventions of the nation’s history, many people think that, for fairness and equity, the North East and South East geo-political zones that have had the shortest stints at the Presidency, should be given special consideration, in choosing the presidential flagbearer  of the party, for the 2023 elections.

“While we admit that this is a strong argument, we should not lose sight of the fact that Nigeria is endowed with many capable and very experienced leaders in every part of the country. “Moreover, the exigencies of the moment demand that nothing should be compromised in choosing the leader, with the attributes to disentangle the country from the present quagmire. “Therefore, we think that every Nigerian, from every part of the country, should be given the opportunity to choose the best candidate, through a credible primary election; as a way of institutionalising a merit based leadership recruitment process, for the country.”

Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that while presidential hopefuls from the North are comfortable with the position of the PDP Committee  on the review of the 2019 general elections, their counterparts from the south east have dismissed the recommendation  as self serving.

They argued that throwing open the PDP presidential  ticket,  has reinforced the perception that the zone does not really count in the permutation of those who call the shots in the erstwhile ruling party.

A chieftain of the Party  from the south east, who incidentally is a member of the Senator Bala Mohammed team however said majority views weighed in favour of  capacity for the exalted office to salvage the future of the country which he maintained was precarious.

He said:” We did a good job by foreclosing zoning.

“We can’t  throw  away competence on the altar of zoning. Nigeria is at the precipice. What is paramount now is how to retrieve the country  from the abyss into which it has sunk.

“We shouldn’t fall into same affliction of the APC which ended up with   an ethnic champion.  We need someone with a national acceptance. Who can get a pan Nigerian mandate for PDP and hit the ground running? Does he have the physical and mental capacities?  Can he work 28, out of 24 hours? Can he really engage world leaders?

“Nigeria is in  the doldrum, financially.

“We don’t want someone who will be at sea when  crucial issues of moving the economy is being discussed. So, all these were considered before we settled for merit.” 

We lack tact

A chieftain of the party who incidentally is a member of its Board of Trustees agreed with the decision to jettison zoning, but blamed the PDP National Working Committee for the controversy and the anger trailing the rejection of zoning particularly from the Southeast zone.

The chieftain who craved not to be named told Nigerian Tribune that  exposing the main opposition party position on zoning of Presidential ticket when its main rival was still prevaricating on the sensitive  issue  with no official position showed lack of tact.

He said: “The issue of zoning has created serious division in the ruling party. As the main opposition party, we are supposed to keep them on the edge. But we have let the cat out of  the bag very early and they don’t need to guess again on what our position is on zoning. They have nothing to worry about.”

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