Wike Blast PDP Northern Aspirants on Violation of Zoning

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential aspirants from the north violated the party’s principle of zoning and rotation of power by joining the race for the number one seat. 

Wike stated this while playing guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, lamenting that despite the gentleman’s agreement subsisting in the party, those involved never adhered.

Politicians and members of the PDP who have declared interest in the 2023 Presidency include ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar; ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki; Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal; and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.

The Rivers governor, who also threw his hat in the ring, claimed that he ceased to support Tambuwal’s bid for the presidency since the PDP had agreed to zone its ticket for the presidency in 2023 to the South.

Wike said, “He (Tambuwal) is still my very good friend. In 2019, I supported Aminu Tambuwal because we zoned to the north. In 2017, all of us agreed that this should be zoned to the north, which was why nobody from the south collected forms for that election, and I have no regret. What I do not like is for people to deny that there is no zoning or there should be no zoning. That is what I do not like.

“The provision of our constitution is clear under Section 7, Sub-section 3C, says there should be a rotation of party offices and elective offices. The founding fathers of the party know the complexity, they know the diversity of this country, and they made sure that for equity, fairness and justice, this should be done.”

Wike added that his decision to contest was, however, not based on the fact that the PDP was to zone its ticket to the South but because he has what it takes to govern Nigeria.

Asked whether the zoning principle of the party implies that Atiku, Tambuwal, Saraki and Mohammed should not think about getting the PDP’s presidential ticket in 2023, Wike said, “There is nothing that can make me because of power violate simple agreement whether it is written or unwritten, that makes you a gentleman.

“Just like I am today, if the party says it is zoning it (ticket) to the north, I will not run; I will obey the party, but what I don’t agree with is for people to say that there shouldn’t be zoning.”