2023: PDP Yet To Deliberate on Zoning – Ologbondiyan
Kola Ologbondiyan, The People’s Democratic Party spokesman has revealed that the party is yet to discuss on zoning of the 2023 presidential election.
Ologbondiyan disclosed this while reacting to Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi’s plan to dump the party.
It had been gathered earlier that Gov. Umahi has told the National Working Committee of the party that he wants to join the All Progressives Congress.
The Ebonyi State Governor in his statement had claimed that APC would protect the interest of the South-East in the 2023 elections.
Ologbondiyan while speaking on Arise TV on Monday noted that the statements of Umahi as it relates to South-East presidency is a genuine concerns.
The PDP spokesperson, however, stated that the party is yet to decide on the zoning of candidates in the 2023 presidential election.
Ologbondiyan stated:
“Discussions have not reached that stage at all. The concerns raised by Governor Umahi as it affects the South-East, the party believes are genuine concerns. And when the time comes and all the variables are considered, and all the issues are taken into consideration, the party will take its decision.”
“PDP is not a party that can be stampeded. We are not a party that takes decision on the impulse of one or two individuals; we are a structured political party – we have our various organs and decisions as important as the zoning of the number one office is not a decision that can be taken at a sitting; it is a decision that must be taken round all the interests and the organs of our party. We haven’t even started the discussion, that’s the honest truth.”
“But concerns are being raised and the party is also studying all the concerns. I believe all these will come into play when the party wants to make a decision but as we speak, we have not reached that level.”
He added that the party is not moved by the region APC wants to zone the ticket for the 2023 presidential election.
He accused some APC Members of planning to pull members of the PDP to form a third force in the next general elections.
“We are aware in the Peoples Democratic Party that there are those who are losing out in APC and they are contemplating a third force just as they did in 2014 and as such, they are looking at coming to the PDP and break the party by taking members of the PDP to create a new political party.”
“The PDP is a holistic political party and we are not going to allow distractions. The leadership of the PDP under Prince Uche Secondus is steadying the party for the purpose for which Nigerians are aligning with us come 2023,” he stated.
Ologbondiyan reiterated that the National Executive Council of the party would meet on Thursday “in order to consider all issues lingering in the nation and our party”.
