ZONING IN PDP CONSTITUTIONAL

By NBF News

The National Vice Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Alhaji Danladi Sankara, has said zoning of elective offices in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and in the various spheres of governments is not only a conventional tradition, but a constitutionally backed policy of the party.

Sankara who fielded questions from reporters in his office on the controversy surrounding the choice of the presidential candidate of the party in 2011 said that Article 7 (c) of the PDP Constitutions (2006 Amended Version) stated without any ambiguity that elective offices either in government or within the party structure must be based on the principles of rotation and zoning.

He quoted the particular portion which states thus: 'In pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective officers, and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.'

Sankara, a proponent of a presidential candidate of northern extraction for the PDP in 2011, warned those he described as mischief-makers to back off and allow President Goodluck Jonathan offer good leadership to the nation.

His words: 'We must not allow ourselves to be distracted by the dubious antics of people that were not even around when serious minded and patriotic Nigerians came together to form the PDP.

'Dr. Goodluck Jonathan needs all the support of Nigerians, and we are happy he is receiving the support.