UPDATED: PDP Set To Zone Chairmanship To North As Governors Vote In Zones’ Favour

Agency Report

The Governors elected on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have voted for the zoning of the party chairmanship to the North.

This recent move could be an early indication that the presidential ticket may go to the south

According to TheCable, the development came from the PDP Governor’s meeting held Wednesday night at Akwa Ibom Governor’s lodge in Abuja where it was gathered that the Governors voted 9-3 in favour of the North.

Three northern governors — Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Adamu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba) — voted for the chairmanship to be zoned to the south.

Recall that Mohammed has announced his intention to run for president in 2023.

Only one Northern Governor, Samuel Ortom of Benue, voted for the chairmanship to be in the north.

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto state and chairman of the PDP governors forum, did not vote as he presided over the meeting.

He too is believed to be eyeing the presidential ticket, having run unsuccessfully in the party primary in 2019.

The other PDP governors who voted in favour of Northern chairmanship are: Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), and Douye Diri (Bayelsa).

The meeting resolved to pass the resolution of the governors to the zoning committee of the national convention, currently scheduled to take place on October 30 and 31 in Abuja.

Sources said the convention may be shifted to give room for resolution of outstanding issues in the party.

If a Northerner become the Chairman of PDP, this may be signal that the PDP will pick its presidential candidate from the south, though changes can still be made to reflect the north/south balance in the event that other compromises are reached.