As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finalises preparations for its 102nd National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja today, tension has erupted between leaders of the North-Central and North-West zones over which region should produce the next national chairman of the party.
Naijaonpoint reports that the NEC is expected to consider and possibly adopt the Zoning Committee’s proposal to retain the existing zoning arrangement for party offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A NEC member from the North, who spoke with Daily Sun, insisted that the North-Central deserved the position, arguing that the zone had not enjoyed a full tenure since the removal of former Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
“The North Central was to hold the National Chairman for four years. But Iyorcha Ayu left after one year, and the North-East has been holding the position in the last three years. It will be unfair to take it away from North Central. We won’t allow North West to take it,” the party leader said.
The NEC member further argued that the party could balance its ticket by choosing a vice-presidential candidate from the North-West, given its large voting population.
“Yes, North Central is pushing for the chairmanship, and I believe that should be the case. Come to think of it, we can pick our running mate from the North West. That is where the population is.
“If you give the chairmanship to the North West, you are not likely to have the vice-presidential slot again from that zone. That is a logical argument,” he added.
The Northern PDP caucus is expected to meet after the approval of the zoning formula to micro-zone the positions allotted to the North among the three geopolitical zones.
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