EXCLUSIVE: PDP throws Presidential race open, kills zoning

The Committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party to advice on the geopolitical zone to produce the party’s presidential candidate has decided to throw the race open to any member of the party that seeks to be the next leader of Nigeria.

The PDP 37-member zoning committee under the chairmanship of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom took the decision to allow aspirants seeking to contest the presidency on the platform of PDP to test their strength and popularity according to a source close to the committee.

Rising from the committee’s meeting today in Abuja, Governor Ortom said the members of his committee has finished their assignment and they have all unanimously agreed a position on how to handle the presidential ticket. The chairman said the committee will send their recommendation to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

National chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu set up the Ortom-led Zoning Committee to advice the party on the matter that has become very controversial and testy among party member.

WesternPost gathered from our source within the party who was privy to the decision of the Ortom’s Zoning Committee that the unanimous decision the Benue State Governor told newsmen after his committee’s meeting was one that will throw open the presidential contest to all interested party members.

The committee in two previous meetings in Abuja could not agree on whether to zone the presidential ticket to any part of the country due to pressure from aspirants.

Among the top contenders for the PDP ticket are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s 2019 presidential candidate, Governors Nyesom Wike, Emmanuel Udom, Aminu Tambuwal and Bala Muhammed.

Other aspirants that have declared to run on the ticket of PDP include former Governors Peter Obi who was Vice Presidential Candidate of the party in 2019, Ayo Fayose and Senator Bukola Saraki.

Former Vice President Atiku was the first aspirant in PDP to obtain the nomination forms and he was also the first to submit his forms to the party secretariat in Abuja.