The Peoples Democratic Party has said that it is yet to decide on the zone to fly its flag in the 2023 presidential election. The Governor Bala Mohammed-led Peoples Democratic Party Committee on the Review of the 2019 General Elections, had recommended that the party should throw open the contest for its 2023 Presidential ticket. National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus said that the Bala Mohammed Committee’s report will form the bedrock of the party’s plan ahead of 2023 general elections.
However, both the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, has rejected the Bala Mohammed-led committee report of the Peoples Democratic Party, which recommended that the 2023 presidential ticket of the party should be thrown open to all sections of the country. Ohanaeze said that the Mohammed-led committee report was capable of impugning the unity of the country and asked for the withdrawal of the report that it described as unconscionable. The Igbo parent body noted that it was committed to Nigeria producing a President of Igbo extraction in 2023, adding that it will willingly identify with any group that is ready for the bargain.
No zoning of 2023 presidential
ticket – PDP
“In line with certain unwritten conventions of the nation’s history, many people think that, for fairness and equity, the North East and South East geo-political zones that have had the shortest stints at the Presidency, should be given special consideration, in choosing the presidential flag bearer of the party, for the 2023 elections.“While we admit that this is a strong argument, we should not lose sight of the fact that Nigeria is endowed with many capable and very experienced leaders in every part of the country. Moreover, the exigencies of the moment demand that nothing should be compromised in choosing the leader, with the attributes to disentangle the country from the present quagmire.
Therefore, we think that every Nigerian, from every part of the country, should be given the opportunity to choose the best candidate, through a credible primary election; as a way of institutionalizing a merit based leadership recruitment process, for the country. “I have no doubt in my mind that your report will form the bedrock of our party’s plan ahead of 2023 general elections. The National Working Committee (NWC) is going to study and analyze your report meticulously and come up with a position that will be beneficial to the party.
“The PDP is putting no stone unturned to ensure it regains federal power and this report is going to be the take off point and keystone to our subsequent actions ahead of 2023.”
We reject in its entirety the no-zoning committee report headed by Bala Mohammed. The report is anti-people aimed at returning Prince Uche Secondus as National Chairman of the PDP and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as his Presidential candidate come 2023.
Your report is anti-people, dictatorial,
disloyal – Ohanaeze, OYC
Ohanaeze views the report by the Bala Mohammed led committee as most despicable, un-reflective and unconscionable. It is very worrisome that some highly placed Nigerians who have benefited so much from the unity of the country would be inclined to decisions and actions that will further inflame the passions of the patient but aggrieved part of the country. “The Mohammed self-serving report has confirmed the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, as a party that has no respect and value for party loyalty and support, but a party whose purpose is to serve personal interest and purpose.
“The South East has been a major supporter of the PDP since its formation from 1998 till date. A prominent son of South East Dr. Alex Ekwueme laid the foundation with his G34 group upon which the party was formed in 1998. “Ndigbo has suffered, sacrificed and invested so much towards the progress and success of the party right from its inception till date and deserves to be given the party’s presidential ticket come 2023 for her hard towards the progress and success of the party. “It is on record that Atiku Abubakar was part and parcel of the meeting that agreed on rotation of the party’s presidential ticket between the north and the south.
“Why the change? In 2011 PDP presidential primary election, Atiku Abubakar openly told the entire world that he was in the meeting that agreed on zoning the presidential ticket of the party between the north and south. “We expect the former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to do the right thing and the needful by supporting the south east to produce the next PDP presidential candidate come 2023. Ndigbo all over the country supported in the 2019 general elections and he right he returns the favour. “The PDP since it was formed enshrined in its constitution rotational presidency between the north and south.
Never has it been said that a committee was formed to review such sensitive issue. It is dictatorial for anyone to think he can change the zoning of the party’s presidential ticket agreed upon by the party’s founding fathers. “It is the time of South East geopolitical zone to get the party’s presidential ticket and nothing can change that.
