2027: ‘He’s a tool for inclusion’ – Peter Obi camp reacts to PDP zoning arrangement
The camp of the former Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reacted to the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Executive Committee, NEC, to zone its presidential ticket to the South.
During its 102nd NEC meeting at its National Secretariat in Abuja, PDP agreed to zone its presidential ticket to the South, while the position of the National Chairman remains in the North.
The decision followed the presentation of a report by the Zoning Committee chaired by Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri.
He further disclosed that the party also retained the existing National Working Committee zoning formula for the November elective convention.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting said: “That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Northern Region of the country remain in the Northern Region.
“That all PDP National Office positions currently in the Southern Region of the country remain in the Southern Region.
“That having retained the position of the National Chairman in the Northern Region of the country, the Presidential Candidate of the Party for the 2027 General Election is hereby zoned to the Southern Region.
“That the Regions should immediately micro-zone positions within its Region for implementation.”
Southern presidency: Peter Obi a tool used to insist on inclusion – Ex-aide
Obi’s former Special Adviser on Public Affairs during the 2023 presidential election, Katchy Ononuju, said the former LP presidential candidate was a tool used to insist that all regions should be included in the governance of Nigeria.
Speaking with DAILY POST, Ononuju said: “This is not an issue of Peter Obi, it’s about inclusion and governance. This has nothing to do with Peter Obi.
“Peter Obi was a tool we used to achieve our aim of asserting our seriousness about the argument that everybody should be included in the governance of Nigeria.
“So, just like they went to Goodluck Jonathan and told him that they want him to run – Goodluck told them, it’s not me wanting to run, clean up your house.
“I thank the PDP for finding the courage to do what they have done today, thanks to all our members who fought alongside me and others to see reasons.”
Zoning has corrected Atiku’s effort to undermine Igbos
Ononuju went further to say that the zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South has corrected attempts by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar to undermine Igbos and their attempt to be included in the governance of Nigeria.
He said: “Now that they have corrected themselves and zoned to the South, they now have to clear the problems that came as a consequence of their mistakes of embracing Atiku’s compromising protocol which forced them to neglect inclusion through that instrument called zoning.
“They now have to get rid of those crises that came so they can reposition the PDP as the ruling party.
“I can tell you that with the action today, PDP is telling Atiku that he is wrong. PDP called Atiku today that he’s wrong.
“But also don’t forget that Atiku is not acting alone, there are those in the know who think that the Igbos should not be included in the governance of Nigeria.
“Atiku may not be acting on his own, he may simply be acting to undermine the chances of Igbos in the governance of Nigeria.
“We have started the protocol and process of trying to heal, how far we get I don’t know, but I know that we are going to get there.”
PDP zoning a welcome development, Obi will make his decision at the right time – Yunusa Tanko
On his part, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said PDP’s zoning arrangement is a welcome development.
He, however, stressed that Obi will make his decision on which party to join at the right time because other political platforms were asking him to join them.
“Politics is dynamic and I can tell you that it’s not only PDP that is seeking the hands of Mr Peter Obi, it’s a big issue for us and we are humbled for such a show of love and Peter Obi will make his decision at the right time.
“The zoning is a welcome development and I’m sure Obi is very humbled by such a call,” Tanko told
