PDP retains old zoning formula

Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Haliru Mohammed

The expanded national caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party has agreed that the party should maintain its old zoning formula in the sharing of political offices in both the National Assembly and the party.

Before the caucus meeting, which began on Tuesday night and ended in the early hours of Wednesday, the National Working Committee of the party had met and drafted a resolution, which was presented to members of the caucus at the meeting.

The meeting, which was held at the Presidential Villa, was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, his deputy, Alhaji Namadi Sambo; members of the PDP National Working Committee, and some PDP governors.

A member of the caucus, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, said the North-Central, where the incumbent Senate President, Senator David Mark hails from, has again been given the right to fill the position.

Mark has shown interest in the Position. He is the highest ranking senator from the zone, having won election into the Senate for the fourth time.

The South-West, where the incumbent Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, comes from, is also going to present his replacement.

Bankole from Ogun State, it was gathered, would have been the natural choice of the party to return to his seat, but he lost his re-election bid as he was defeated by the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria during the National Assembly election.

Only six members of the party are returning from the zone. It was also learnt that Oyo State might produce the next speaker.

Though the party performed poorly in the zone during the election and other elections, investigations by our correspondent showed that both Mark and Bankole had reached agreement with the leadership of the party before the general elections that they would return to their respective seats.

President Goodluck Jonathan and other stakeholders of the party were also said to have been privy to the agreement.

It was also gathered that the meeting agreed that the position of the National chairman of the party, which is currently being occupied in acting capacity by Dr. Haliru Mohammed, be zoned to the North-East.

Mohammed will be expected to remain in office till March next year when the tenure of the current members of the NWC will end.

The zone is also to produce the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

-Punchwp_posts