A panel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chaired by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, has disclosed that the party’s presidential candidate in 2023 election should be by merit not zoning.
According to Daily Trust report, the panel was constituted to review the performance of the party in the 2019 general elections.
Submitting the report of his committee to the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday, March 17, Governor Mohammed, said every part of the country should be given the opportunity to choose the best candidate.
He maintained that the argument that the north-east and southeast geo-political zones should be given special consideration because they “have had the shortest stints at the presidency” is valid.
But he cautioned the opposition party not to lose sight of the fact that Nigeria has many capable hands from every part of the country.
“In line with certain unwritten conventions of the nation’s history, many people think that, for fairness and equity, the North East and South East geo-political zones that have had the shortest stints at the presidency should be given special consideration in choosing the presidential flag bearer of the party for the 2023 elections.
“While we admit that this is a strong argument, we should not lose sight of the fact that Nigeria is endowed with many capable and very experienced leaders in every part of the country.
“Moreover, the exigencies of the moment demand that nothing should be compromised in choosing the leader with the attributes to disentangle the country from the present quagmire.
“Therefore, we think that every Nigerian, from every part of the country, should be given the opportunity to choose the best candidate through a credible primary election, as a way of institutionalizing a merit-based leadership recruitment process, for the country,” stated
Receiving the panel’s report, the PDP’s national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said the NWC will study and analyse the report meticulously and come up with a position that will be beneficial to the party.
Secondus said the party is leaving no stone unturned to ensure it takes over the federal power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.