By Adesuwa Tsan
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained that it has not taken a stand on the zoning of the 2023 presidency, assuring that it will consult widely before taking a decision on the matter.
A press statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, clarified that the recommendation in the Governor Bala Mohammed-led 2019 Elections Committee report that the presidency should be thrown open to all zones was merely a proposal.
The statement added that its decision on zoning will be ”the product of wide consultation, discussions and consensus building, taking into consideration the aggregate aspiration and hope of the generality of the Nigerian people.”
It said it had noted the disposition and line of discussion from various political interests across the six geo-political zones of the country, and at the appropriate time, the collective understanding of Nigerians will prevail.
Ologbondiyan said, ”The PDP immensely appreciates the overwhelming interest by majority of Nigerians in the PDP as their national rallying point to elect a pan-Nigeria, unifying and people-oriented leadership that would rescue our nation from misrule, come 2023.
”Our party notes that such unprecedented public interest and confidence in the PDP is responsible for the widespread discussions and enquiries on the recommendations of the Committee on the Review of the 2019 Elections.
”The PDP notes that the recommendations will be subjected to its democratic process by relevant organs of the party and consultation across all national interests.
”While our party appreciates the enthusiasm by Nigerians on our nomination processes, the PDP assures that its decision on zoning will be the product of wide consultation, discussions and consensus building, taking into consideration the aggregate aspiration and hope of the generality of the Nigerian people.
”Our party has however noted the disposition and line of discussion from various political interests across the six geo-political zones of our country in this regard, and at the appropriate time, the collective understanding of Nigerians will prevail.”