Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the South West geo-political zone, under the aegis of the extended zonal caucus, Tuesday, insisted on the presidential candidate to be fielded by the party for the 2023 elections must come from the southern region.
The decision further dims the ambitions of the party’s north chieftains like the Sokoto State Governor, and the PDP Governors’ Forum chairman, Aminu Tambuwal, and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar who have both expressed interest to contest the ticket on the same platform.
The decision formed the resolution contained in a communiqué signed at the end of the meeting of the Southwest extended zonal caucus of the party, which was held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.
The zonal chairman of the party, Chief Soji Adagunodo, in the communiqué read at the end of the meeting, said the Southwest zone of the party was in support of the position of the Southern Governors’ Forum which had continued to insist on the next President of the country coming from the South.
Three former governors from the zone, Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti); Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) attended the meeting.
Oyo State governor and host, Seyi Makinde; National Vice Chairman of the party, Taofeek Arapaja; Bode George; Ekiti former deputy governor, Olusola Eleka and Senator Francis Fadahunsi from Osun were also at the meeting.
Adagunodo further stated that the party resolved that all its members in the zone should work towards winning the forthcoming off-season governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states for the party.
“We also resolved that the unity of the Southwest is a non-negotiable issue; to this end, we demand that all dispute resolution mechanisms should be on the front burner.
“The zone is desirous of fairness, justice and equity in the distribution of federal positions and appointments.
“We will support all efforts geared towards national cohesion through equitable distribution of federal positions and appointments among the geopolitical zones of the country,” the communiqué read.