Indications emerged at the weekend showing why most South East chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are against zoning of the party’s presidential ticket.
There have been calls in some quarters for the party’s ticket to be zoned to the South.
But chieftains of the party in the South East, including the former national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh kicked against it, saying that zoning the presidential ticket of the party is already too late.
Metuh in an open letter to the party said zoning the ticket will cause a mass exodus of chieftains from the party.
According to Metuh: “We all witnessed the sad events of 2013 and 2014 where some of our founding members were encouraged to leave by outright denial of equal opportunities and other similar actions done with impunity of power. I remember the cases of Governor Ortom, Chief Banabas Gemade, Governor Tambuwal, ex-governors Wamako, Nyako and many orders.
“Nothing should be done to appear to take us back to such a period of the arrogance of power especially as we are in opposition.
We are faced with a ruling party that appears to be reorganising. They have taken good political hands from us and promoted them to the highest positions not minding any emotional blackmail.
“Just this morning, the Presidency is already mocking us with complaints of our absorbing our former members. I believe the APC is actually frightened of the potency of our former leaders who have fully returned to our party. We should not play into the hands of the conspiratorial tactics of our competition, the APC.
“As a person who participated fully in organising our resistance at the height of the popularity of APC; one who suffered greatly at great human and material costs, including denial of my liberty and freedom, as the longest-serving elected member of the National Executive Committee of the PDP in history and one who has served as Ex-officio Member of the NEC, Zonal Youth Leader, National Auditor, National Vice-Chairman and National Publicity Secretary, I plead that none of you should fall into the temptation of attempting to zone offices at this late hour”.
In a subsequent post on Facebook, he said: “I support a consensus candidate from the South-east. It’s a better approach than talking about zoning at the 11th hour. A consensus candidate from the South-East will easily win the Presidential Primaries at the convention.
“I remain strongly opposed to zoning a position 7weeks to the National Convention. It will breed resentment, divisional and bitterness”.
But StandardObservers gathered at the weekend that chieftains of the party from the region are warry of zoning because a chieftain of the party and current governor from the South-South will likely take it.
A chieftain of the party from Enugu told StandardObservers that the two PDP governors from the region are already working for the South-South governor and had endorsed him.
According to the chieftain, the South-South governor has already secured the endorsement of 50% of the delegates in Imo and Abia.
On zoning, he said “The PDP has never left it too late to zone positions and we have only done zoning twice, officially, in the history of our party.
“It’s most unlikely the NEC of the party will accept to zone after selling forms and within a month to the primaries. The last time, it was done more than 2yrs to the elections.
“We not unmindful of harsh words from our people and the innuendos therein but I still owe it a duty to explain and enlighten. Trust me, if we zone now, unlike your expectations a governor from the South-South will be the candidate and even then, PDP will self implode.
“It is likely that the South East can win at the convention if we refocus and stop chasing shadows and imaginary enemies. We have the best aspirant, arguably.
“I am a delegate and capable of getting more delegates for our South-East aspirant”
