Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors from the South have resolved to micro-zone the party’s National Secretary to the Southeast, it was learnt yesterday.
The position is one of the key party offices zoned to the South two weeks ago by the Zoning Committee chaired by Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Sources hinted yesterday that the Southern Governors will meet in Benin City, Edo State capital today to harmonise their positions on the matter.
The consultations across the six geopolitical zones on micro-zoning of the offices allotted to the region, have delayed the sale of nomination forms, which was supposed to have started yesterday.
According to the timetable released by the party leadership, the sale of the forms is expected to end on Friday. Each chairmanship aspirant is expected to pay N5 million as nomination fee.
The fee for the position of Deputy Chairman is N3 million while National Secretary aspirants and others are required to pay N2 million. Each contestant for the position of Deputy will pay N750, 000.
The timetable for the October 30-31 convention, released by the party last week, indicated that screening of aspirants is slated for Monday October 18, while hearing of appeals arising from disputes is slated for October 21.
The publication of names of assistants cleared for the various positions is slated for October 23, to be followed by a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) where the list of delegates to the convention will be adopted on October 25.
A statement by the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), last week had stated: “All potential aspirants for various party offices at the national level are therefore advised to purchase their expression of interest and nomination forms at the national secretriat of the party in Abuja from Monday October 11 to Friday October 15, 2021”.
In addition to the National Secretary, other key positions zoned to the South include the National Publicity Secretary, National Woman Leader, Financial Secretary and National Auditor among others.
It was gathered that the decision to cede the National Secretary to the Southeast was informed by the sharp division among party leaders in the Southwest zone.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose are leading two opposing camps in Southwest PDP.
The two camps have failed to reconcile their positions, despite reconciliatory efforts initiated by various stakeholders.
The two camps have been going in opposite directions on every decision to be taken by the Southwest and have been taking conflicting positions on issues.
Also, stakeholders in the North are also said to be engaged in broad consultations over the position of National Chairman, which was zoned to the region.
No fewer than eight aspirants from the region have indicated interest in the position.
The aspirants include former Senate President David Mark; former Katsina Governor Ibrahim Shema; former Gombe Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo; and former Kogi Governor Ibrahim Idris.
Others are a former Kaduna governor, Ahmed Makarfi; and another former Senate President Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
