The People’s Democratic Party’s committee on zoning has jettisoned the idea and consequently flung its doors wide open for all interested members to contest the seat.
The 37-member committee, which is billed to submit its report to the leadership of the party on Thursday, took the decision at a meeting at the Benue Governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
The committee is headed by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.
Ortom told journalists at the meeting that “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.”
While the governor did not speak in specific terms, part of the recommendations of the committee said that the “affirmation of zoning as provided in the PDP constitution; the ticket is thrown open, this time around due to exigency of time; Our party is encouraged to always make the issue of zoning very clear at least 6 months before sales of forms; our party should commend the efforts of some our contestants on the issue of consensus candidacy; the efforts should be seen to a peaceful and logical conclusion”.
A document sighted at the meeting by The Punch newspaper sadi that:
“Recommendations of PDP Zoning Committee
“1. Zoning, as in our party constitution, is affirmed.
“2. In spite of (1) above, (the) Ticket is thrown Open, this time around due to exigency of the 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.”
An interesting development from the meeting was the resignation of former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, from the zoning committee.
Fayose in a letter he wrote to the chairman, Gov. Ortom, before the start of the meeting, linked his resignation to his decision to join the PDP Presidential race.
“Having hinted during our last meeting of my intention to run for the Office of the President in the coming primary election and by God’s grace, the general election, it will not be morally right to continue to participate in the zoning debate being an aspirant myself,” Fayose wrote.
“Therefore, my state has nominated the bearer of this letter, Dr Gbenga Faseluka to replace me,” the letter read in part.
Those who attended the meeting were Governors Darius Ishaku, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Taraba and Enugu states respectively; ex-governors Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa).
The others were former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, one-time Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Tanimu Turaki and Chairman, PDP Disciplinary Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi, among others.
