PDP NEC To Endorse Zoning
There are strong indications that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will endorse zoning in line with the party’s constitution today. On Tuesday the National caucus of the PDP rejected moves to initiate a process for the removal of provisions on zoning and rotation of offices from the party’s constitution.
The position of the caucus has received widespread approval by the stakeholders of the party. However, the caucus is only an advisory body therefore its decisions would only be enforced after ratification by the NEC today.
According to political pundits that spoke to DAILY SUMMIT yesterday, ratification of the resolution of the party’s caucus is very likely because the use of zoning formula for next year’s election has enjoyed the support of majority of the party’s stakeholders.
They noted that the major stakeholders, like the Northern Governors Forum; the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); the South East leaders and others have endorsed zoning for next year’s election and that the NEC cannot afford to disregard their views and fail to endorse zoning.
DAILY SUMMIT investigations however, revealed that the pro-Jonathan groups that have been campaigning for the jettisoning of zoning are unrelenting in their quest and are believed to be lobbying the NEC members not to endorse zoning.
The pro-Jonathan group failed to have their request for the deletion of section 7.2(c) of the party’s constitution when the caucus met on Tuesday. Section 7.2(c) of the PDP’s constitution provides that the party should zone and rotate political offices in the interest of peace and unity of the country.
Undeterred by their failure to have their way at the caucus meeting, the pro-Jonathan group re-grouped yesterday and resolved to intensify their lobby to see that zoning is not endorsed by the NEC.
It remains to be seen how the pro-Jonathan group could be able to pull off that, especially as the rank of those rooting for zoning is increasing by the day.
Our correspondent also gathered that most of the state governors in the country are in support of zoning.
One of the governors confided to DAILY SUMMIT that zoning is the most egalitarian formula for ensuring peace and stability in the polity and so enjoys their support.
DAILY SUMMIT sources have also revealed that about 28 governors have signed a petition endorsing the removal of the national Chairman of the PDP Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo for allegedly working against the interest of the governors and the party by championing the removal of zoning clause surreptitiously.
The governors accused Nwodo of spearheading a plot to undermine their holds on their states by cutting down the number of automatic delegates that would be accepted at the party’s convention and for embarking on online registration of members without adequate consultation.
The governors are also piqued that the Chairman has portrayed them before Nigerians as very corrupt people. Many of the governors were yet to forgive Nwodo for purportedly alleging that they (the governors) were bringing money to him.
DAILY SUMMIT gathered that, aside their demand for the removal of the national Chairman, they want the NEC to reject the proposal to amend the clause in the party’s constitution that gave governors 70 percent of delegates at party primaries.
The position of the caucus has received widespread approval by the stakeholders of the party. However, the caucus is only an advisory body therefore its decisions would only be enforced after ratification by the NEC today.
According to political pundits that spoke to DAILY SUMMIT yesterday, ratification of the resolution of the party’s caucus is very likely because the use of zoning formula for next year’s election has enjoyed the support of majority of the party’s stakeholders.
They noted that the major stakeholders, like the Northern Governors Forum; the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); the South East leaders and others have endorsed zoning for next year’s election and that the NEC cannot afford to disregard their views and fail to endorse zoning.
DAILY SUMMIT investigations however, revealed that the pro-Jonathan groups that have been campaigning for the jettisoning of zoning are unrelenting in their quest and are believed to be lobbying the NEC members not to endorse zoning.
The pro-Jonathan group failed to have their request for the deletion of section 7.2(c) of the party’s constitution when the caucus met on Tuesday. Section 7.2(c) of the PDP’s constitution provides that the party should zone and rotate political offices in the interest of peace and unity of the country.
Undeterred by their failure to have their way at the caucus meeting, the pro-Jonathan group re-grouped yesterday and resolved to intensify their lobby to see that zoning is not endorsed by the NEC.
It remains to be seen how the pro-Jonathan group could be able to pull off that, especially as the rank of those rooting for zoning is increasing by the day.
Our correspondent also gathered that most of the state governors in the country are in support of zoning.
One of the governors confided to DAILY SUMMIT that zoning is the most egalitarian formula for ensuring peace and stability in the polity and so enjoys their support.
DAILY SUMMIT sources have also revealed that about 28 governors have signed a petition endorsing the removal of the national Chairman of the PDP Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo for allegedly working against the interest of the governors and the party by championing the removal of zoning clause surreptitiously.
The governors accused Nwodo of spearheading a plot to undermine their holds on their states by cutting down the number of automatic delegates that would be accepted at the party’s convention and for embarking on online registration of members without adequate consultation.
The governors are also piqued that the Chairman has portrayed them before Nigerians as very corrupt people. Many of the governors were yet to forgive Nwodo for purportedly alleging that they (the governors) were bringing money to him.
DAILY SUMMIT gathered that, aside their demand for the removal of the national Chairman, they want the NEC to reject the proposal to amend the clause in the party’s constitution that gave governors 70 percent of delegates at party primaries.
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