Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has disclosed that the focus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 General election is to win election and not zoning. Wike stated this today while interacting on a Channels television program, “Sunrise Daily”. The Governor was of the opinion that the zoning formula was an arrangement of ensuring that the political power moves from one ethnic block to another, saying that only the ruling party can afford that.
He said when he himself was contesting to become governor in 2015, the zoning arrangement nearly thwarted his ambition until when it became necessary that he was allowed to contest.
Wike stated, “As an opposition party, we look at all variables. What will make us win the election (comes) first. That is what is important to us. The ruling party can say that (zoning) but for the opposition party, there are variables.”
However, when he was asked to speak his opinion on the zoning debate, the governor said, “It depends. As an opposition party, we look at all variables. Forget about other parties. We look at all variables and our own concern is how do we win, how do we get back power.
According to him, it is not one factor that determines the decision of the party, but many variables are been put into consideration. But for him to say that this is what should be done now being an opposition is not right and he will not say it.
Mamman Daura, a nephew to President Buhari last week stirred a debate about zoning when he said that zoning should not be a criterion on who’s become the President in 2023.
Buhari who is a candidate from the Northwest political zone and a Fulani by extraction will be rounding his tenure by 2023.
There were speculations that other major political parties are planning to anoint another Northerner as their flag bearer in a move to increase their chances of securing the seat.
