The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest geo-political zone yesterday backed the proposal to retain the national chairmanship of the party in the North.
The Southwest PDP, which supported the proposal during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, argued that the move would help the party regain its strength in the North after a woeful performance at the 2015 general elections.
The Zonal Chairman, Makanjuola Ogundipe, took endorsements of participants and presented it as the zone’s position.
According to Makanjuola, the proposal for the North to retain the national chairmanship does not necessarily translate to a tenure elongation for the incumbent, Ali Modu Sheriff, who is expected to step down on May 21 when a national convention will be held to elect a new leadership for the PDP.
“It also does not forbid any other zone from showing interest in the position. No person or group can deny any member the right to aspire to any office.
“We are in a democracy, not autocracy. We have canvassed our views. Let those with contrary opinions or positions put forward theirs. We need not abuse one another”, the zonal chairman said.
The meeting pointed out that a North, which has only two PDP governors – Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe and Darius Ishaku of Taraba, will be further weakened by being denied the position of the National Chairman.
At the meeting were National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo; National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh; Senator Buruji Kashamu; National Women Leader Kema Chikwe; Senator Teslim Folarin; Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun; former Southwest Zonal Chairman Tajudeen Oladipo; Senator Ayo Adeseun; former House Leader Mulikat Akande-Adeola and Ade Dosumu.
Others are state chairmen- Tunji Shelle (Lagos), Yinka Taiwo (Oyo), Ganiyu Olaoluwa (Osun) and Idowu Faleye (Ekiti).
