The 37-person zoning committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has reportedly thrown open its presidential ticket to all aspirants following the end of its mandate on Tuesday.
The committee it was learned, took the decision after a meeting on Tuesday at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom said, “by the Grace of God, we have unanimously adopted a position that will be sent to the NEC of our party that appointed us.
“The good news for teaming supporters of the PDP and Nigerians is that we have resolved and every one of us-the 37 members, unanimously adopted the position that we are going to present to NEC.”
But according to an anonymous source quoted by The Punch, the committee threw open the ticket “due to exigency of time” saying “zoning, as in our party constitution, is affirmed.”
A leaked document sighted by the press read:
“Recommendations of PDP Zoning Committee
“1. Zoning, as in our party constitution, is affirmed.
“2. Inspite of (1) above, (the) Ticket is thrown Open, this time around due to exigency of time.
“3. Our Party is encouraged to always make the issue of zoning very clear at least 6 months before sales of forms.
“4. Our Party should commend the efforts of some of our contestants on the issue of consensus candidacy; the efforts should be seen to a peaceful and logical conclusion.”
You would recall that the party’s National Executive Committee, at its 95th meeting on March 16, 2022, set up a 37-man committee made up of members from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory to recommend a zoning formula for the various electoral offices ahead of the 2023 general election.
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