PDP woos Jonathan with presidential ticket, as governors zone party chairmanship slot to North
Main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be getting the state set for the eventual emergence of former President, Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate, as stave off the lure of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jonathan has been in the mix of controversy over plans to defect to the APC with the promise to fly its ticket at the 2023 General Elections as Presidential candidate.
However, following Wednesday’s decision by state governors elected under the platform of the party to zone the chairmanship of the PDP to the North region, it appears the coast is now clear to alot the presidential ticket to the southern zone, since the party traditionally picks its candidates on a system that ensures balance.
With the chairmanship slot of the party going North, the South is set to get the Presidential ticket.
The development comes with barely weeks to the national Convention of the party scheduled for Abuja from October 30 to 31, where its National Working Committee would be elected.
At a meeting, which held, Thursday, in Abuja, nine governors voted in favour of the zoning, 3 voted against while the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who is the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum did not vote as the rule objects to his voting, being the one presiding over the meeting.
The Governors who voted for the chairmanship position to go to the north are Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).
Those who voted for the seat to go to the south are Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).
It is understood that the resolution of the governors will be passed to the zoning committee of the national convention.
This is a move party members have seen as their endorsement of having the party’s presidential candidate from Southern Nigeria.
The PDP Governors voted 9-3 in favour of the North chairmanship of the party at the meeting which held at Akwa Ibom Governor’s Residence, Wednesday in Abuja.
It was also revealed that three northern governors, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) voted for the chairmanship to be zoned to the South.
Governor Samuel Ortom (Benue) is the only Governor from the North who voted for the chairmanship to be in the North.
The Governor of Sokoto state (North) and chairman of the PDP governors forum, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal did not vote as he presided over the meeting.
Tambuwal is believed to be eyeing the presidential ticket, having run unsuccessfully in the party primary in 2019.