Purported zoning of the governorship position by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the Northern Senatorial Zone of Cross River is reportedly causing disaffection within the party.
Nigerian Pilot reliably gathered that some stalwarts of the party are not comfortable with the zoning of the governorship position to a particular senatorial zone.
The idea of zoning the governorship to the Northern Senatorial Zone of the state was allegedly mooted personally by the state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke.
It was also learnt that the zoning of the governorship position in Cross River has not been ratified by the party caucus, thereby causing ripples within the party.
A stalwart of the PDP in the state, Mr. Gershom Bassey said though he was not opposed to the zoning of the governorship position, other elective offices in the
state should also be zoned.
“The party caucuses should sit and streamline the zoning issue. If it is agreed that the Northern Senatorial Zone should produce the next governor, which zone produces the governor after that, is it the central or southern senatorial zones?”
Mr. Bassey who is the leader of the party in the Southern Senatorial Zone and flaunted by many as a possible successor to Governor Imoke said ‘‘these are issues the party caucuses have to look into; we need to streamline all these’’.
Another PDP stalwart in the state, Mr. Edem Ekpo told our correspondent that the issue of zoning has to be consented to by the various ‘interest’ groups within the party.
Mr. Ekpo noted that it was wrong to limit zoning to only the governorship position, adding that other elective offices also have to be zoned.
“There are communities in this state that have never produced a councilor, so when they talk of zoning it should be all encompassing”.
Another stalwart of the party Mr. Baron Etim said he was opposed to zoning because it breeds mediocrity.
He said even if the party members are forced to accept zoning, the search light for a governor should not be centered round a ‘preferred’ candidate.
The state governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has persistently insisted on producing his successor from the Northern Senatorial Zone of the state.
The zone, which boasts of political heavyweights like the second republic Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas; Senator Kanu Agabi (former Attorney General and Minister of Justice) among others has not produced a governor since the creation of Cross River.
Governor Imoke disclosed that his decision to support a candidate from the zone was based on ‘equity and justice’ as the two other senatorial zones have all had a shot on the governorship.
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