The 37-man zoning committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has recommended the party Presidential ticket that ticket be thrown open to all aspirants.
The decision came after a meeting on Tuesday at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
According to a source who pleaded anonymity, the committee threw open the ticket “due to exigency of time” saying “zoning, as in our party constitution, is affirmed.”
The document sighted by our correspondent read:
“Recommendations of PDP Zoning Committee
“1. Zoning, as in our party constitution, is affirmed.
“2. Inspite of (1) above, (the) Ticket is thrown Open, this time around due to exigency of the time.
“3. Our Party is encouraged to always make the issue of zoning very clear at least 6 months before sales of forms.
“4. Our Party should commend the efforts of some of our contestants on the issue of Consensus candidacy; the efforts should be seen to a peaceful and logical conclusion.”
Though, the Chairman of the Committee, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, who briefed journalists at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja, said members have reached a unanimous agreement on the matter.
He however declined to speak on what the position of the committee is.
He said a report will be forwarded to the National Executive Committee of the party.
The PDP zoning committee was inaugurated on March 24 by the National Working Committee following the controversies surrounding the party’s arrangement for the presidency ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The committee, which was tasked with the responsibility of ensuring fair distribution of the party’s elective offices across the country, is composed of Governors Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and Ifeanyi Ugwunanyi of Enugu State, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, former Governors, lawmakers and other party stalwarts.
