Anyim, who is also a former Senate President, had earlier returned his presidential nomination form before addressing the NWC
By Emma Ogbuehi
The vexing issue of zoning re-echoed again on Wednesday at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where a presidential aspirant, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, urged members of the National Working Committee (NWC) not to jettison the principle already enshrined in the Party’s Constitution.
Anyim made the call when he unfurled his vision and agenda if elected President of Nigeria in 2023 to the august body led by the National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
Anyim, who is also a former Senate President, had earlier returned his presidential nomination form before addressing the NWC.
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) was emphatic that any attempt by the party to jettison the zoning principle will be a disservice to democracy.
“Democracy, being a system of rules and order, depends on strong institutions for its sustenance and success. When a system can no longer defend its rules, it will enthrone the reign of might as against the rule of law. My appeal is that PDP should defend Section 7 (3) (c) of its Constitution,” he said.
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Anyim who said his presentation will be incomplete without touching on the raging issue of zoning in the PDP said though he would abide by the decision of the party on the matter being a true party man, he, however, appealed for circumspection.
“I would want to put the following on record: Democracy thrives on three ‘certainties’ – Certainty of tenure, Certainty of structure, and Certainty of process.
“At any time any of these ‘certainties’ is no longer guaranteed, democracy will be corrupted and inequity will be enthroned. Accordingly, my appeal is that zoning being a fundamental principle of our party should not be jettisoned.”
The issue of which zone should be given the party’s presidential ticket has become a very thorny issue in the PDP.
While a school of thought to which Anyim belongs insists that after eight years of Muhahammdu Buhari presidency, power should return to the South, another school of thought that is comprised mainly of Northern aspirants are pushing that the contest be thrown open.
A 37-member zoning committee chaired by Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom to sort out the matter could not resolve it.
Meanwhile, 17 aspirants – 16 men and one woman have bought the party’s presidential nomination form
Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who disclosed this while responding to Anyim’s impassioned speech, said the party will do the right thing.
“The fact that we have 17 aspirants who have already bought form shows the strength of the PDP and I believe that any of the 17 will do far better than the disaster we have in the last six years,” the former Senate President said.