Politics

2023: South-east PDP Backs Southern Governors’ Stance on Zoning of Presidency

Published

4 years ago

March 28, 2022

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-east geo-political zone has aligned with the position of the Southern Governors’ Forum that the next president of Nigeria should come from the southern part of the country.
This is just as Governor Nyisom Wike of Rivers State has declared his intention to run for the office of the President of Nigeria in the 2023 election, under the PDP.

Furthermore, the PDP south-east also directed that the existing zoning patterns in states and constituencies of the zone must be strictly observed and adhered to in every state and constituency of the zone.
According to a statement, briefing newsmen after the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) meeting of the PDP, held in Enugu, and attended by the leader of the party in the south-east and Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his Abia State counterpart, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the National Secretary of the Party, Senator Sam Anyanwu, members of the State and National Assemblies, members of PDP National Executive Committee (NEC), Board of Trustees (BOT) members, among others, the National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Ali Odefa, disclosed that it was unanimously agreed that the PDP should zone the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the southern part of the country ahead of the party primaries.

Odefa added that the PDP south-east stands with the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum, “that the Office of the Presidency should be zoned to the southern part of Nigeria”.
On the issue of zoning at the state and constituency levels in the zone, the PDP National Vice Chairman stated: “We said where there are zoning patterns they must be strictly observed and adhered to in every state and constituency.”

Odefa added: “We also went ahead to make interventions for our members who are holding political and elective positions in Anambra State who didn’t defect to other political parties in the time of the election but stood by the party (PDP) in times of bad weather, that they should be given support to return back to their various offices”.
He, therefore revealed that the zonal leadership of the party would make a presentation to the National Working Committee for assistance in that regard.

READ ALSO:

Wike Declares Interest to Contest for Presidency

Meanwhile, Wike has declared to run for the office of the President of Nigeria in the 2023 election under the PDP.
Wike who made this known when he visited his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom at the Government House in Makurdi, yesterday, said he was making his intention to contest for presidency known for the first time in Benue.
He argued that he was the best Nigerian for the job, boasting that the PDP would remove the APC from power.
“To remove APC from power, I’m the person who can tell them enough is enough. We must take this power and I’m ready to take it for PDP. God is with us that’s why APC keeps failing every day,” he added.

Wike also urged stakeholders to give him their mandates and not to sell their votes, assured that he has the capacity to, “face this evil government.
“He queried those founding fathers who ran away from the party and still want to be recognised, saying,” by the time you ran away, you sold your share as a founding father so you can no longer retain your position of founding fathers.

“I stood for this party; I work for this party since 1998. I have nowhere to run to and that’s why anything that happens to this party I take personally. I have never relented.
“In 2015, those who ran away made us lose election, today, they are crying but some of us stood and said PDP will not die.
“Some people want to use Nigeria to buy back their personal business, they talk about private sector. Mention the private business that survive. Is it banks that your father had? Everybody is an employer of labour. Even in my house I have 50 people who feast from me.

“They should stop deceiving us. I have performed as a governor and carry my shoulders high anywhere. I have the capacity to face this evil government. Just give me the mandate. I will speak the truth to power and nothing but the truth. I have the capacity to move this country forward,” he said.

THISDAY

Up Next

PDP carpets APC for ‘celebrating illegality, corruption’ at Convention

Don't Miss

INEC list doesn’t nullify me as PDP candidate, says Babayemi

Politics

Wike Fires Back at Makinde, Denies Plan to Weaken PDP for Tinubu

Published

21 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Trends Admin

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike

Wike Fires Back at Makinde, Denies Plan to Weaken PDP for Tinubu

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that he promised to “hold the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) down” to ease President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Wike refuted the allegation during an end-of-the-year media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday, describing the claim as false, unfair and borne out of political frustration.

“What was that purpose that would have led me to say, ‘Mr President, I’ll hold PDP down for you?’” Wike asked.

Governor Makinde had last week alleged during a media chat in Ibadan, Oyo State, that Wike volunteered to weaken the PDP for Tinubu’s benefit during a meeting attended by the president and other political figures. Makinde said he was shocked by the alleged statement and insisted he would not support Tinubu’s second-term bid.

READ ALSO:

Responding, Wike denied that such a meeting or statement ever took place. He clarified that he, alongside former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Makinde, only paid a post-election visit to President Tinubu to discuss general political issues.

“There was no such meeting. It is completely out of point to say I told Mr President that I would hold PDP down. It is very unfair,” Wike said.

The FCT minister accused Makinde of misrepresenting events and allowing personal ambition to fuel internal divisions within the opposition PDP.

“You can see frustration in Seyi Makinde. There is nothing wrong with ambition, but ambition must be guided by the rules,” Wike stated.

He further blamed Makinde for the legal battles that deepened the PDP crisis, alleging that party leaders had agreed to resolve disputes internally before Makinde took matters to court.

“We all agreed for the party to move on. He refused and went to the Supreme Court. When he went, he lost,” Wike said.

The rift between the two senior PDP figures has intensified following Makinde’s public declaration that he would not support President Tinubu in 2027, citing concerns over opposition survival and democratic balance.

Wike, however, maintained that he never offered to undermine the PDP, insisting that the allegations attributed to him were spurious and ill-conceived.

Wike Fires Back at Makinde, Denies Plan to Weaken PDP for Tinubu

Politics

I Won’t Be Anyone’s Running Mate in 2027 — Peter Obi

Published

22 hours ago

December 29, 2025

Trends Admin

Peter Obi

I Won’t Be Anyone’s Running Mate in 2027 — Peter Obi

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has declared that he will not serve as a running mate to any presidential aspirant in the 2027 general election, insisting that his ambition is to contest as president.

Obi made the declaration on Sunday night during an X Spaces conversation, where he spoke extensively on his political future, leadership vision, and preparedness to govern Nigeria.

READ ALSO:

The former Anambra State governor stressed that he had acquired sufficient experience in both the private sector and public service, making it unnecessary for him to seek the position of Vice President.

“I am not travelling round the world to learn governance to be Vice President,” Obi said.

He expressed confidence in his ability to lead the country, stating that he possesses the knowledge and competence required to turn Nigeria around.

“I built my business from scratch and have more experience than any candidate, including the sitting President. Peter Obi will be on the ballot in 2027. I need your support and your prayers,” he added.

Obi’s declaration is expected to shape conversations ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly within the Labour Party and among his supporters nationwide.

I Won’t Be Anyone’s Running Mate in 2027 — Peter Obi

Politics

Kwankwaso, Governor Abba Yusuf Set to Dump NNPP for APC in Major Kano Political Realignment

Published

1 day ago

December 29, 2025

Trends Admin

Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the incumbent Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

Kwankwaso, Governor Abba Yusuf Set to Dump NNPP for APC in Major Kano Political Realignment

Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the incumbent Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf are expected to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in what is being described as a collective decision endorsed by Kano voters and key political stakeholders.

The anticipated move would see both leaders abandon the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the platform that powered their sweeping victory in the last general election, and align with the ruling APC at the national level.

The development was disclosed by Abdullahi Rogo, Director-General of the Protocol Directorate of the Kano State Government House, during a video statement that has since gained wide circulation.

According to Rogo, extensive political consultations in Kano State were held with influential actors across the state’s political structure, including the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly and prominent members of the Kwankwasiyya political movement.

READ ALSO:

He said the engagements culminated in a unanimous agreement on the state’s next political direction.

“After our meeting with the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly and other members of Kwankwasiyya, we agreed that Kwankwaso and Governor Abba K. Yusuf should join the APC,” Rogo stated.

Rogo stressed that the proposed defection reflects the will of the people of Kano, noting that political decisions must align with the interests and expectations of the electorate.

He described the planned move as a strategic political decision aimed at strengthening Kano State’s influence at the national level, particularly within the framework of federal power.

Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate and one of the most influential figures in northern Nigerian politics, commands a vast grassroots following across Kano and beyond. Governor Yusuf, his longtime ally and political protégé, currently controls the state’s executive arm, making the potential defection highly consequential.

If confirmed, the move would represent a major political boost for the APC in Kano State and could significantly reshape political alignments ahead of future elections in the state and the wider North.