The camp of a former Anambra State Governor and PDP presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, has kicked against the decision by the opposition party to make the presidential race open to all zone.
A media aide to the presidential aspirant, Valentine Obienyem, in an interview with newsmen, said although the party’s decision remained supreme, it would be an injustice if the South-East was denied the presidential ticket.
This is as the PDP, on Tuesday, disclosed that all those who had purchased the presidential forms were free to contest its presidential ticket regardless of zones.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, said this during a chat with newsmen while responding to questions on the zoning controversy raging in the party.
It is also understood that National Executive Committee of the party, which would meet on Wednesday next week, would set aside the party’s Zoning Committee report, which recommended that the presidential ticket should be zoned.
The PDP spokesman recalled that when the party zoned its presidential ticket to the South in 1999, the late former Governor of Kano State, Abubakar Rimi, decided to test his popularity on the field.
He, therefore, stated that this would be the same strategy that would be adopted by the PDP.
In his words, “Our processes, our constitution are subject to the constitution of Nigeria. The constitution guarantees every qualified Nigerian be able to aspire to any position in this country. The party cannot stop anybody from contesting because that will be at variance with the constitution.
“In 1999, the PDP zoned its presidential ticket to the South. Remember that at the Jos convention, late former Governor Abubakar Rimi of Kano State said he agreed with the party but said as a Nigerian he would contest and the party did not stop him.
“Recently at the national convention, the party decided to zone certain offices. You will recall that at the national convention, three positions were contested: deputy chairman (North) deputy chairman (South), and national youth leader.”
Ologunagba noted that a 37-member committee led by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State had submitted its report which would then be considered by the National Executive Committee of the PDP on Wednesday next week.
He noted that the NEC – which is the highest decision-making body of the party – would be the one to decide on whether there should be zoning or not.
The PDP spokesman, however, assured all contestants that regardless of the decision of the NEC, they would still be allowed to contest.
When asked if the decision of the PDP to sell forms and screen candidates would not alter its intention to zone, Ologunagba said “The process of collecting forms is one that goes without any conflict with the party’s process as regards zoning. One should not stop for the other. The process of screening cannot stop the process of decisions with the party. If the party decides to zone or not to zone, either way, the screening will still be done.
“If NEC says we go a particular way, as long as it doesn’t go against the constitution and the party, so be it,” he stated.
