EDO: Why PDP should zone presidential ticket to South-South – Aziegbemi

THE Chairman of state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, has said the presidential ticket should be zoned to the South-South for the 2023 general election.Aziegbemi made this known, yesterday, while addressing journalists at the first anniversary of the state executive.

According to Aziegbemi, zoning the  presidential ticket to the south-south will “right the wrong that was inflicted” following the exit of the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Edo PDP chairman argued that by not winning the 2015 election to serve a second term in office, the Jonathan presidency was not complete and the entire south-south was “short changed” by the development.

Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the PDP would go down in history as the first incumbent president to be defeated at the poll in Nigeria having lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

Aziegbemi said Jonathan’s defeat should be factored into the decision of the party’s national leaders; he, therefore, urged them to zone the presidential ticket to the region ahead of the 2023 general election.

“Our zone, I believe, was shortchanged when President Goodluck Jonathan was stopped from getting a second term. With that in mind, and with the quality of leaders from the zone, we demand that our party, PDP, must zone the presidency to the south-south to at least right the wrong that was inflicted,” he said.

“Our zone is the most PDP-centric zone in the country with all the states being governed by PDP and all the governors performing excellently well. We wish to place on record that we are very proud of all our governors in the zone.

“It is the most ‘Nigerianised’ and contributes immensely to the federation purse. We have the buccaneering spirit, gritty resolve, give and take, a conviction that everyone is entitled to the same dignity, courtesy, and esteem.

“These values of integrity, impartiality, and merit have proved timeless and are a decisive legacy of our founding fathers.” Aziegbemi added.

Commenting on the first anniversary of the executive, he said the state’s leadership has built a strong foundation that will contribute to the party’s success in subsequent elections.

“I believe that we have laid a solid foundation. I believe our victory in the last general election is a testimony that Edo people trust us and believe in the vision of the governor and the party,” he said.

“It is now time to build upon the foundation we laid so that we can sustain Edo PDP in government over many election cycles.

“I humbly submit that our party has eminent men and women from across the six zones of the country that can lead us to victory.”