A former Aviation Minister, Mr Osita Chidoka has explained why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had 12 candidates from the North fighting for its presidential ticket in 2019.
Speaking in Channels Television program which was monitored by Africa Today News, New York, Chidoka disclosed that it was because PDP had agreed it was the Northern region’s turn to rule for eight years.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, eventually won the ticket against the likes of Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwoso but lost to President Muhammadu Buhari at the poll.
Read Also: ‘Why I Won’t Withdraw Lawsuit Against PDP’ – Secondus
‘In 2019, because the PDP agreed that it was the north’s turn to do eight years, we all zoned the presidency to the north.
‘If you notice at Port Harcourt, all the 12 contestants for PDP ticket were northern and vice-president Atiku emerged as the candidate because there was an understanding that this is time for the north,’ Chidoka said.
The debate on zoning the 2023 presidency continues to rage in both the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
All present 17 Southern Governors are adamant that it is time for the region to produce the next president of Nigeria, a line of thought which has pitched them against their northern counterparts.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK