A report has emerged claiming that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have sidelined the Southeast geo-political zone in their power-sharing deal ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The PDP which is yet to make an official pronouncement on the zoning of offices, may not give the Southeast any of the four topmost elective positions in Nigeria if the party wins the 2023 elections.
Recall that the southeast zone lost out in the quest for the 2023 presidential ticket of the PDP and also in the tussle for the vice presidential ticket, as the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar chose Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, from the South-south, as his running mate.
Multiple sources disclosed to Sunday Sun that the Senate president position may have been ceded to the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, as compensation for his role in the emergence of Atiku as PDP 2023 presidential candidate, in the event that he wins a senatorial seat for Sokoto South Senatorial District.
Tambuwal had withdrawn from the contest for the PDP ticket paving way for Atiku’s victory at the party’s national convention, after which the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, described him as the ‘hero’ of the convention.
House Of Reps Speakership
It was learned that it is unlikely that the Southeast will get the Speakership of the House of Representatives, as the Southwest is also making a strong bid for the top position in the lower legislative chambers.
According to Sunday Sun, ranking members from the South-south are already positioning themselves for the Speakership seat irrespective of whatever decision the party may come up with in terms of zoning.
A top party source disclosed that the most likely office that would come to the zone, if the PDP wins the 2023 elections, is the position of national chairman of the party.
The source said though the Southeast has a high chance of producing the Speaker, the fact that Okowa, an Igbo from the South-south, would hamper such possibility.
He said: “We (geo-political zones in the South) have to share whatever comes to the South. The vice president is an Igbo man; don’t forget that. So, any major thing coming to the South, the Southwest will indicate interest.
“Maybe Speaker may come to Southeast. But the most likely thing for the Southeast to produce is the national chairman. The national chairman of a ruling party is actually the most powerful position in government.”
PDP Zoning
Another source disclosed that Atiku and the leadership of the PDP are wary of talking about zoning positions when they are yet to win the 2023 elections.
“They are saying that they will not mention positions that will go to the zones, until after the election. So that we can go to the election with minimal frictions,” the source said.
He said the PDP would enforce zoning of National Assembly leadership if it wins the 2023 general elections, noting that “Atiku is not your run-of-the-mill person. If the party takes a position on zoning and you are going against it, there would be consequences. Once the party gets the majority, the caucus will decide on how things will go. That is all.”
