Nigeria’s opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has resolved to throw its 2023 presidential ticket open to every geopolitical zone in the country.
The decision was taken by the party during its recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
The meeting was arranged in a bid to consider the report of the party’s zoning committee headed by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, disclosed this after the meeting in Abuja.
While making the disclosure, Ologunagba said the decision aligned with the recommendation of the party’s zoning committee.
He said: “After a very extensive deliberation, NEC aligned with the recommendation of the PDP national zoning committee that the presidential election should now be left open.
“The party should also work towards consensus where possible.”
The NEC’s decision effectively ended the argument on the zoning of the party’s ticket.
There were hints last month that the party had jettisoned the zoning idea and decided to throw the ticket open to every aspirant to test their strength at the forthcoming presidential primary in Abuja.
The Executive Governor of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; and other aspirants from the southern region had tirelessly pushed for the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket to the region.
Also, some leaders and other stakeholders in the country like the Southern and Middle Belt Forum (SMBLF) had threatened to withdraw their support for any party that does not zone its ticket to the southern part of the country.
