The 37-man zoning committee headed by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has flung open the ticket to all aspirants ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary election slated for May 28, 2022.
Recall that the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed-led committee which reviewed the PDP performance during the 2019 general election had last year recommended that the 2023 ticket be thrown open.
After three meetings in the last two weeks, a source who is a member of the 37-man zoning committee exclusively told DAILY POST that the Ortom led committee has also recommended that the ticket be open.
The source said after the over three hours meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, said: ‘’We have resolved that the ticket be thrown open. This will allow those who have bought forms to contest.”
Many governors on the platform of the PDP from the south are agitating that the ticket be zoned to the south, while those in the north and the Presidential aspirants from the north want zoning jettisoned.
Read also: I Will withdraw if PDP Zones Presidency to North- Gov Wike
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ortom said, “We have just finished our meeting, after we rose from our meeting last week, today we decided that we would meet and by the Grace of God we have unanimously adopted a position that will be sent to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our party that appointed us.
“The good news for our teeming supporters of the PDP and Nigerians is that we have resolved and every one of us, the 37 members unanimously adopted the position that we are going to present to NEC, he said.
Meanwhile, the number of presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party has risen to 12.
Those who obtained presidential nomination forms include former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; former Senate Presidents, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Anyim Pius Anyim; Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed; Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; Publisher of Ovation International, Dele Momodu.
Others are Oliver Diana Teriela, Nwachukwu Anakwenze; Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel; a businessman, Muhammad Hayatudeen and Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor.
With this number of aspirants, the Iyorchia Ayu-led PDP has generated about N480 million from the sale of presidential nomination forms.
