It has been revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is most likely to zone its 2023 Presidential ticket to the Southern part of the country, to match the All Progressives Congress, APC, which is expected to do the same in the much-anticipated 2023 Presidential election.
According to report gathered, the Governors and Leaders who currently control the party, have quietly resolved to have the next President emerge from the South, in national interest.
One of the PDP State Governors said: “It is clear that APC is going to the South, by the power arrangements and commitment made to rotate the Presidential ticket during the formative stage of the party. So, PDP will follow suit.”
The PDP Leaders noted that the last Presidential election in 2019, which was between 2 Northerners, brought about national stability, even though the results were fiercely contested, adding that, there was no post-election violence, regardless.
They therefore, reasoned that in the current political climate, there will be a major crisis, if there is a Candidate from the North, and another from the South, from the 2 main parties.
“It can lead to instability and increase the current political tensions”, one of the PDP Leaders said.
Consequently, the PDP Leaders have dismissed campaigns by some Northern Aspirants, who are trying to say that the Presidency has been in the South for more years than it was in the North.
These Leaders argued that cumulatively, the North has been in power more than any other region, especially when both the Military and civilian governments are combined.
“So, you can clearly see that there is no argument there, that the South has ruled for 13 years of PDP’s 16 years in power. If you go that route, others may as well point to the fact that the North has ruled for 43 years since independence, while the South has ruled for 18 years.
“Right now, the emphasis is not on North and South, but what is in the best interest of Nigeria as a country, and what steps will ensure its survival. We need to have patriots who can rise to national calling, who will sacrifice their interest or regional interest to build national cohesion for the progress of the country at this time of crisis”, another PDP Leader stated.
According to PDP Leaders who shared this position, the decision to field a Candidate from the South, is not about partisan politics, but in the interest of the nation, adding that, Leaders from both parties should be poised to make the necessary sacrifice to ensure stability in the country.
Other sources within the PDP, disclosed that the emerging consensus is not about PDP, but about the country, and that even though a small powerful group appeared to oppose the arrangement within the ranks of the PDP, the party is expected to go ahead with the plan.
Some of those believed to be opposed to this understanding, sources claimed, include a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, one of the PDP Stalwarts revealed.
He said: “We love Atiku and Saraki, but we love Nigeria more. Nigeria cannot survive a North-South Civil War, this is the time for peace.”