By Amos Dunia, Persecond News
Abuja – Northern Elders and Leaders Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday declared their support for the quest of the Southwest geo-political zone to produce the next National Chairman of the party.
The Forum which announced its position at the end of a crucial meeting in Abuja explained that its resolve to strongly support a Southwest candidate for the chairmanship position is based on promoting the spirit of fairness, equity, carrying every part of the country along, giving every geo-political zone a sense of participation and inclusion in the affairs of the Party.
Accordingly, the Forum urged delegates from all the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory to abide by its decision and vote for only Chairmanship aspirants from the Southwest geo-political zone in the forthcoming national convention in the best interest of the party.
The PDP Northern elders and leaders however said that their position on the matter is without prejudice to the right of aspirants from other geo-political zones to contest.
These were contained in a communique issued at the end of the Forum’s meeting which held at the Ajuji Hotel, Abuja from the evening of Thursday day November 30 to the early hours of Friday December 1, 2017.
The communique which was signed by the former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Margaret Icheen called for the dire need for the rebuilding of the confidence of Nigerians in the PDP as it moves towards 2019 which it said remain paramount.
The Forum further said that whatever decision that is to be taken by members should be in tandem with this position.
It therefore directed the geo-political zones to put in place mechanisms to reconcile those that are aggrieved as a result of the micro-zoning in their zone.
The communique further stated; “The forum resolved that capable and competent aspirants should be identified and supported.
“The forum received reports from the three geo-political zones of the region, regarding the micro-zoning of positions zoned to them, in line with the spirit of rotation.
“The forum considered other sensitive issues that have serious bearing on the success of the party in the 2019 general elections and reiterated the need for all and sundry to put hands on deck for the success of the party.”
The Forum called on all members of the party to accord the National Caretaker Committee (NCC), the required support to conduct a credible, transparent, free and fair convention come 9th-10th December, 2017.
