Even as the controversy trailing the move by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to throw their Presidential ticket open, aspirants from the South East have begun consultative meeting so as to ensure that a South Easterner emerges as the party’s Presidential candidate.
Recall that some aspirants from the North including Sen. Bukola Saraki, Gov. Bala Mohammed, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal and Atiku Abubakar have commenced consensus talks.
Briefing newsmen on Saturday at Protea Hotels Abuja, former Senate President and one of the Frontline Presidential Aspirants, Pius Anyim said they have agreed to work together and ensure that the next Presidential candidate of PDP is from the South East.
He said, “We met this morning and resolved as follows.One, we have agreed to work together as a team. We will work together to ensure that a South Easterner emerge us a PDP flag bearer for 2023 presidential election.
“We intend to consult with other zones on this issue and it is based on fairness and equity. In doing so, it is important to note that we have always supported other zones, and we now expect them to reciprocate” Anyim said.
He also informed that the meeting has been going on in the last one month and hinted that other aspirants from the zone that has indicated interest in the race will be accommodated.
While not ruling out consensus, Anyim said that the group is guided by the principle of equity and fairness, interest of the South East and the provisions in the PDP constitution. He said that the team will work together to ensure that their dream is realised.
“We will work together in the interest of the party, in the interest of the nation, and in the interest of South east”.
Anyim said that the decision of the Southern governors to insisting that the next Presidential candidate of the party come from the South is not the propelling factor for their meeting and subsequent decisions.
“Whatever they are doing or whatever they are not doing is not necessarily before us. So when you meet them in their own meeting, you can ask them.
“Well if our position tallies with that of the Southern governors, good luck. But we are taking this position in the interest of national unity, in the interest of PDP and in fact in line with PDP constitution. We believe that the PDP constitution favours what we are doing and we have to boldly step out with this decision”.
Some of the aspirants present at the meeting were Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Peter Obi and Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze. The lone female aspirant who incidentally is from the zone, Oliver Diana was not present at the meeting.
