Zoning: We Didn’t Make 2023 PDP Presidential Ticket Open – Ortom
- Insists it is solely NEC’s decision
BY VICTOR BUORO – With aggrieved groups already throwing political missiles in their direction, the Governor of Benue State and Chairman, Zoning Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Samuel Ortom has debunked claims of throwing open the party’s presidential ticket for the 2023 general elections.
He said contrary to the widespread speculations in the media and public space, the Committee is regrettably being quoted on what it did not say or recommend.
Speaking on an AriseTV prime time programme, ‘Morning Show’ on Wednesday, April 6th, 2022, Governor Ortom expressed surprise that people who were not privy to discussions at their meeting would now want to “force words into the Committee’s mouth.”
Clearly expressing displeasure at the caption on the news bar while the interview went on, the Benue State Chief Executive said; “I want to clear the insinuations that the zoning committee has thrown open the presidential ticket.
“I did inform the media yesterday (Tuesday, April 5, 2022) that the Committee has adopted a unanimous position to be presented to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. Where did I say that the Committee has thrown open the presidential ticket?
“The committee will present the report to NEC. It is the NEC that has the final authority on the zoning of positions. As far as the committee was concerned, there were arguments that the presidential candidate should go to the South.
“While some said it should go to the Northern part of the country. There were others who were of the opinion that it should be thrown open for the best candidate who will be able to deliver good governance and make Nigerians feel like human beings again.”
According to him; “As the chairman of the Committee, we did not say that. So it is very wrong for anyone to insinuate that we have thrown the presidential ticket open. I am still repeating that, whatever we did, we have submitted our report to NEC. So, it is wrong for the media to come out with a position despite the fact that they were not members of the committee.
“I came out to brief the media. So, it is wrong completely. I did not say that. And like I said, NEC is the final authority on deciding where this position will be zoned to.”
He said when the party positions were being zoned before the national convention, “NEC directed us that in zoning these positions, go and do it right without minding where the president will come from yet. That when the time comes for the presidential, a mandate will be given to the people and NEC will take a decision. That is what we have done.”
The Committee Chairman urged the media to the circumspect in their reportage, saying do not “Crucify us. Don’t kill us before you get the answer because PDP has not brought up a report.”
Insisting that it is the responsibility of PDP’s NEC to do the needful, Governor Ortom said the Party’s leadership is “Consciously working towards ensuring that the party gets it right thing this time. I believe that at the end, the right thing will be done.
“Preempting the Committee’s work and NEC decision is not correct. I want to appeal that NEC will soon invite us to a meeting and then we can move on from there.,
He said; “At the end of the day, the most important thing to the PDP is what the party can do to bring the economy and security situation back to normalcy.”
A press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur and dated April 6th, 2022, also quoted the governor as saying; If nothing drastic is done about the present situation in the country, a time will come when even the Presidential Villa and other government houses will be taken over by the terrorists.
“They are already closing in on us and we seem to be helpless. Everyone must team up to fight for justice, equity and fairness.”
