The battle over the zoning arrangement to be adopted by the Peoples Democratoc Party(PDP) ahead its national convention coming up in May continued to rage on Sunday, as sources insisted that the combatants, South-West and North-East are sticking to their guns.
Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune confirmed that some leaders of the party, who lately rallied against the recommendation of the zoning committee to zone the position of national chairman to the North-East have continued to insist that the right thing must be done.
It was gathered that the combatabts were at loggerheads ahead the zoning committee meeting tomorow.
Sources close to the party said the leaders were marshalling their points and reaching out to the relevant organs of the party, including members of the Board of Trustees.
Though, the zoning committee had, in an attempt to pacify the South-West, decided to retain the position of national secretary in the zone, some leaders, including Chief Ebenezer Babatope and the former deputy national chairman, Chief Bode George, have opposed the idea and insisted on the South-West producing the national chairman.
Sources in the party also said other leaders outside the South-West had insisted on the need to ensure that the position of PDP chairman goes round the zones.
The South-East, North Central, North-West, North-East and South-South have, at different times, had a bite at the chairmanship slot, leaving only the South-West out of the equation.
“At the weekend, I can assure you that nothing has been agreed to, but the issues remain the way they are. Some governors are pushing for the retention of the chairmanship position in the North-East and posible extension of tenure for Senaor Ali Modu Sheriff.
“But others are insisting that the right thing should be done and that it won’t be bad if the South-West was allowed to take the slot. Remember, the South-West is the bastion of opposition against the PDP in the South and it should be a good idea to take the party directly to the people,” a source in the know said.
Sources also confirmed that the zoning committee would meet tomorrow to resolve the imbroglio about zoning.
“The zoning committee will meet on Tuesday and resolve everything outstanding about the zoning matter. I hope we are able to conclude,” the party member said.
Sources, however, said, on Sunday, that the party could be heading for commotion over the zoning arrangement, as the rank of the Governors Forum was sharply divided over the issue.
While some governors are said to be insisting on having the post of national chairman remain in the North-East, two particular governors, the chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Dr Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa are said to have parted ways with their colleagues and are insisting on taking the slot to the South-West.
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