PDP crisis widens as more aspirants enter presidential race, zoning fails

By REX ENABULELE and JOSHUA OMOLOYE

• Volunteers are behind Emefile’s branded campaign materials, says, support group
• Orji Kalu asks APC to announce zoning formula, says S’East deserves presidency

P e o p l e s Democratic Party (PDP’s) zoning crisis is deepening as more aspirants join the presidential race from outside the South East and South-South geopolitical zones of the Igbo.

The party is under pressure to give its presidential ticket to the Southeast and South-South Igbo who have not occupied the country’s number one elective office since its return to democratic rule in 1999.

For example, a former governor of Ekiti State and contentious leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West last week declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidency on the platform of the main opposition political grouping. He is expected to pick the N40 million nomination form anytime this week.

The one week extension window for collection of forms closed on Friday, 8th April. With Fayose venturing into the race, the contest has become more widened and the party leadership is having sleepless nights in activating its selection process to seamlessly produce the PDP’s standard bearer in the 2023 general election.

More burdened is the Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom-led Zoning Committee which has just a week to submit its report that will guide PDP in the search for a befitting and acceptable candidate.

There are indications that it will throw the race open. As it now, with someone from the South West entering the race, all the six geopolitical zones have aspirants gunning for the party’s presidential ticket, The Trumpet gatherd.

From the North East are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who was PDP’s candidate in the 2019 presidential election, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Dr. Mohammed HayatuDeen.

From the South East are an erstwhile Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi; industrialist, Mazi Sam Ohuambuwa and United States-based medical practitioner, D r . N w a c h u k w u Anakwenze. From the South South are Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers State) and governor Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) as well as media mogul, Chief Dele Momodu and Mrs. Olivier Tariela who is the only female aspirant. Only Wike is of Igbo extraction in the South South line-up.

The North West and North Central have one contender each in Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and erstwhile Senate President Bukola Saraki, respectively.

While zoning has been contentious among northern and southern aspirants, a clique of them from the North have been having talks on the prospect of finding a consensus candidate. Atiku Abukakar, Tambuwal and Bala Mohammed are clamouring for competence above zoning.

Wike has been the rallying point of southern PDP governors who are against the open ticket and want it and national power to shift to the south. Saraki, Mohammed, Tambuwal and lately, Atiku and Hayatu-Deen have been meeting to find a possible northern consensus candidate.

But clash of interest has prevented their southern counterparts to explore the consensus option. The battle line, no doubt, has been drawn between northern and southern aspirants as the party eagerly but anxiously awaits the report of the Ortom Committee which is expected to determine where PDP presidential ticket goes on May 28- 29 at its presidential primary.

Meanwhile, Emefiele Support Group (ESG), has raised the alarm over an alleged media plot to smear Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele ahead of the 2023 general election. The ESG, at a news conference in Abuja explained that there were plans to blackmail Emefiele based on the independent activities of support groups, which are calling on him to join the race for the 2023 Presidential election.

The group’s Director of Communications, Ms. Benigna Ejimba, said that all Emefiele’s support groups were running on voluntary donations and selfraised funds to promote the call for the CBN boss to run for the highest position in the country.

Ejimba, however, declared that “the smear campaigns were futile attempts from panicky political players to scare Emefiele from considering a presidential bid.

“Let it be known to these greedy politicians and their allies that no single kobo from Dr. Emefiele or the CBN is part of the funds so far spent on those branded campaign materials that have started giving them sleepless nights. “It is ordinary citizens like us that are contributing these funds in form of our widows might to ensure yet again that Nigeria gets it right and keeps away politicians whose only interest is the treasury of the country. “For clarification, we are proud and bold to say that all Emefiele support groups run on voluntary contributions from eminent members of the various support groups who are desirous of a better nation for us all.

“Please note that these young and determined Nigerians cannot and will not be blackmailed into abandoning our commitment to a people’s agenda to convince Dr. Emefiele to step out to continue to consolidate and expand President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacies”, the group stated.

The group stressed that it was a task its members are committed to and have resolved to give up all, including our financial resources, to ensure that this is done.

The spokesperson also expressed confidence that once Emefiele answered their call and join the presidential race, he would be the candidate to beat and claimed that the organised attacks are childish attacks that cannot stop the voluntary activities of advocates in calling on Emefiele to contest.

She added :”We owe no one any apology for our conviction and at the end of the day, Nigerians will appreciate us for bearing the torch of this vision when eventually Dr. Godwin Emefiele becomes elected as the President and continues the growth and development of Nigeria.”

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Senate Chief Whip, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, has tasked the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) to announce the zoning formula of the party, ahead of the 2023 general elections. He said that he would only contest the office of the President if the party zones it to the South-East in the forthcoming APC primary elections.

The former governor of Abia State, made this known in a statement he signed in Abuja, on Sunday. He said the need for the ruling party to disclose its zoning arrangement had become extremely important as it would help to direct aspirants on the right path to follow, in accordance with the demands of the party.

Kalu noted that the pattern used in conducting the last party convention was commendable and should be emulated in future contests in the party. “As the presidential primary election approaches, the issue of zoning is once again central and, as usual, contentious.

“The party is gearing towards making forms available for different elective positions and it is important that the party, as a matter of urgency, reveal her zoning plans for intending aspirants.

“The zoning of offices is very important as it will not only shown light on the path of contenders, but also save the party from unnecessary disagreements and litigations after primaries”, he said.

The former Governor of Abia State explained that his earlier calls and that of other political leaders, stakeholders, opinion moulders, amongst others for the need of sensitivity to the South-East region that had been excluded from the presidency, should be a concern to all well meaning Nigerians with conscience.

He added that 2023 is really a good time to tweak the national’s democratic experiment and create everlasting history in such a way that shows sensitivity to the country’s cultural uniqueness and make all regions feel a sense of belonging.

He added, “It is time to strengthen the unity of the country by making a Southeasterner president of Nigeria. There is absolutely no better time for it than now.”

Kalu maintained that he remained a truly de-tribalised Nigerian who would give every Nigerian, a sense of belonging of allowed to lead the country next year.

“In our country today, having built a formidable spread across regions, I consider myself the most de-tribalised Nigerian with rich experience in economy, business, politics, security and sports to lead the people and manage the economy.

I shall be running for the office of the president if the party zones it to the South-East. “However, in the absence of the zoning to the South-East, I understand the supremacy of the party and shall abide by the decision of the party”, the Senate Chief Whip said. On the unity of the country, Kalu encouraged Nigerians to do away with tribalism and all factors that prevent the achievement of national unity in Nigeria.

He said that in spite of the fact that Nigeria is facing serious challenges in the maintenance of security and national unity, the people should understand that they are made to stay together as a society, believing in the unity of this country because they are better as one.

“If the potentials of the citizens of the country are adequately harnessed, we will see more reasons to embrace each other and win together. “We are therefore required to stand strong and forget all other factors such as tribalism, hatred among the other factors that prevent the achievement of national security and unity in Nigeria,” Kalu stated.