The Chairman of the People’s Democratic party PDP, Committee on Zoning, Samuel Ortom says all the members know that zoning is key and work towards winning the 2023 elections.
Ortom who is also the Benue State Governor stated this after the Committee’s meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said; “the meeting was peaceful without any tension, all the members are understanding and will come out with an acceptable position for all.
“We have adjourned till Tuesday next week. We do not have much to talk about until the meeting is concluded.’’
The Committee is made up of 37 members drawn from the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
Meanwhile, a pressure group within the Peoples Democratic Party, the PDP Justice and Equity group has advised the Party not to zone its Presidential ticket to the south or north.
The group said that the ticket should be an open race where members of the party from both the north and south are free to contest for the position.
It made this known in a memo sent to Sam Ortom-led PDP National Committee on Zoning, which was inaugurated by the national leadership of the party last week in Abuja.
In the memo titled, “Our Case Against Zoning, the group said; “While we hold the position with utmost sense of responsibility, the concerned members of the PDP Justice and Equity group expressed the firm belief that the interest of the party will be better served when there is no polarity in the contest especially that arising from regional or zonal sentiments.
“What the PDP needs at this time, is an open and inclusive race in which no member or section of the country will be excluded.’’
It said; “As a matter of fact, the PDP as an opposition party must shun the luxury of taking certain liberties. It should instead, be guided by pragmatism and practical realities. And the reality here is that the party will stand stronger in the forthcoming presidential election if it forges a common bond that emphasizes neither north nor south.
“With a pan-Nigerian disposition, the PDP will be in a better shape and state to win the 2023 presidential election. Indeed, we must recognise that the issue before us is about electoral contest…After the primary election, the PDP will not be contesting the election against itself rather, it will square up with another formidable political party- the All Progressives Congress (APC)- which also happens to be the ruling party.’’
The group added that; “If the PDP must win the race, it must close ranks, shun any arrangement that could bring about grievance and feeling of exclusion instead go into the race more united and more formidable than ever before because an open, free, fair and inclusive primary election would guarantee the party this winning edge.’’
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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