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Barring last-minute changes, the 37-man committee constituted by the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve the zoning impasse in the party is set to throw open the presidential race, Daily Trust reliably gathered.
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Some members of the committee separately told our reporters that they have reached what they tagged “midcourse solution” on the matter.
To address the zoning impasse, the party at its 95th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on March 16, resolved to establish the zoning committee with the sole mandate of resolving the impasse.
The committee, chaired by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has its membership drawn across the country including three sitting governors, 12 former governors, former ministers and lawmakers. Twice, the panel has met to find a way out without injuring the feelings and sensibilities of various stakeholders from the North and South.
At its Tuesday’s meeting, which lasted about three hours at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, the majority of the committee members, it was gathered, pushed for the jettisoning of zoning to allow various contenders to slug it out without recourse to which part of the country they came.
‘Majority key into zero-zoning arrangement’
A member of the committee from the North said more than half of the committee members have keyed into the zero zoning arrangement to enable all aspirants to participate in the primary exercise during which a presidential candidate will emerge.
The founding member of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that it has been resolved that no member of the panel should speak to the press. He said the resolution of the party would be made public after their meeting on Tuesday.
“It is too late to stop aspirants from contesting and because our ultimate goal is to win, the majority of us have agreed that the race be thrown open to all. We are going for a zero-zoning arrangement,” he said.
“The polity of today requires a national leader that is going to reinvigorate the cohesion and unity of the country. What Nigeria needs is not a zonal president, what we need is a Nigerian president. And, therefore, we are throwing it (contest) open,” he said.
The source said Ortom apologised when his neutrality was questioned over his endorsement of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and zoning of the presidency to the South.
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“He apologised saying that he was misquoted. It was at this point that it was resolved that henceforth, members of the committee should not speak to the press,” he said.
Recall that Ortom had while hosting Wike in Makurdi, recently, said “On southern presidency I stand.”
The claim of the founding member was corroborated by another member of the committee, who said the work of the c’ttee was almost concluded.
“We have reached a resolution but we decided to make further consultations. We have reached a midcourse that all aspirants should ‘market’ themselves,” he said.
A southern member of the committee said the members would arrive at a conclusion next Tuesday. He said those frustrating zoning moves were those with “personal ambition” but they have been told to bury their ambition.
The source further added that all members of the zoning committee whom he described as 70 per cent original members of the party from inception were “on the same page.”
“We are looking for a mid-course solution and we are very hopeful this would be achieved on Tuesday next week,” the party leader said.
The source added: “Everybody is on the same page thinking we have to move forward. At the next meeting on Tuesday, I’m sure we will come up with a mid-course; we would have a solution to it.
“We told ourselves some serious home truth and come to a solution. We are very positive that there would be a solution. Everybody should bury his personal ambition.”
We’ll come up with acceptable position – Ortom
When contacted for a reaction on the matter, the spokesperson for Ortom, Nathaniel Ikyur forwarded a statement to our reporter in which his boss was quoted as saying that his committee will come out with an acceptable position for all.
“All the members understand ourselves that zoning is very key and we are looking at it that at the end of it all, we will do something that everybody will accept and we will go ahead as one big family and win the 2023 elections,” he said.
