The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday said the national leadership was still anticipating the report on the 2023 zoning arrangement.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba spoke on this in Abuja on Sunday, according to Daily Post.
The PDP is yet to give a date for the presentation of the report, almost three weeks after the team was inaugurated.
The party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu in his remark, noted that zoning would be respected because it’s a part of PDP’s tradition.
The “delay” in submission has raised fears in certain quarters with rumours that the party would throw its presidential ticket open.
Reacting, Ologunagba explained that he could not give a timeframe because there is none yet.
The spokesman also reacted to the alleged internal wranglings in the leading opposition platform due to the zoning issue.
“Number 1, I don’t have a date; Number 2, I like the word alleged because there is no controversy among the leaders.
“As the NWC (National Working Committee), we will wait for their report. When it is delivered to us, we will then call for a meeting of the NEC (National Executive Committee).
“So, no date yet until they submit. We have not received any report. As soon as we do that, we will start the process of convening NWC meeting and transmitting the report to NEC”, Ologunagba was quoted as saying.
Read Also: 2023 Presidency: Tension In PDP Over Zoning, Consensus Arrangement
It was earlier gathered that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the man to beat despite opposition by some key chieftains.
According to the report, Atiku’s camp already declared they were not scared about an unfavourable zoning provision, insisting there is no infighting over who becomes the candidate.
“We have nothing against whatever the party will decide, but the zoning will not be against us”, said Raymond Dokpesi, head of the campaign technical committee.
Read More on 2023 Presidency
Ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki, Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed have been going around the country in their bid to select a consensus candidate.
While aspirants like Atiku prefer an open contest, others including Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike are insisting that the South gets the ticket.
Information made available also showed that Saraki and co. as well as Wike put a strong case for the North and South respectively during their separate meetings with Governor Samuel Ortom.
The Benue helmsman, who received them in the state capital Makurdi, is the Chairman of the PDP Zoning Committee.
Meanwhile, the South-East bloc in the party has announced their desire to see someone from the zone emerge as the standard-bearer. (Daily Post)
