2023: We haven’t zoned our presidential ticket, PDP says

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  has debunked reports that it had zoned its 2023 presidential ticket.

There have been reports that the party had rezoned the presidential ticket to the North but will still allow aspirants from other regions for the position.

Specifically, a former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, was quoted to have said when Atiku Support Organization (ASO) recently paid him a visit that the PDP had agreed to rezone its presidential ticket to the North.

“In our zoning agreement, we have agreed to rezone it to the North as requested by others but we have agreed written and openly as a result of what has happened that any candidate from any part of the country can now contest this election,” Aliyu was quoted saying.

However, in a statement on Saturday by its spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, PDP denied the claim and said it had not zoned the position to any region.

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“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to comments and speculations from certain individuals claiming that our Party has zoned its Presidential ticket to a particular part of the country,” the party said.

“This is completely misleading as it does not in any way represent the position of our Party. 

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP emphatically and unequivocally states that it has not zoned its Presidential ticket to any part of the country. 

“The PDP is a political party founded on democratic principles and every action of the Party, including zoning, is based on extensive consultations, discussions and consideration of all the issues as well as the various tendencies and interests across the nation, with the main objective of ensuring that the unity, peaceful co-existence and development of our nation are reinforced and promoted.

“The PDP, therefore, urges Nigerians, our teeming members and supporters to completely disregard the unfounded zoning claims as being peddled. Our Party also cautions those behind the claims to desist forthwith.

“The PDP thanks Nigerians across the board for the overwhelming interest they have in our Party as their sure platform to Rescue and Rebuild our nation from misrule and urges them to remain united and focused as we join forces for the task ahead,” the statement read in detail.