Twelve days to the August 17, national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Southern leaders of the party on Thursday night formally zoned the national chairmanship position to the South West geo-political zone of the country.
With this latest development, the leadership of the party in the zone has technically stopped the chairmanship ambition of the chairman of DAAR Communication, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
Dopkesi, who indicated interest for the number one seat of the PDP, has launched his campaigning with stops in Edo his home state and Lagos, where he met with party leaders and delegates.
In a meeting attended by governors, National Assembly members and former ministers, the southern Nigeria PDP also zoned the positions of national treasurer and deputy national publicity secretary to the South West.
The party zoned the position of first deputy national chairman to the South-South. The South-South also got the positions of national legal adviser, deputy national women leader and deputy national auditor.
The South-East got the following positions: National organising secretary, national youth leader and deputy national financial secretary.
Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said despite the zoning of the positions, any party member willing to contest any position is free to do.
He, however, advised party members from the Southern Nigeria to respect the zoning formula.
With this arrangement, the party may have perfected plans for the emergence of Chief Bode George as the party’s national chairman, who has also declared his intention for the position.
