The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Executive Committee has authorized the zoning of the position of national chairman to the north.
Last Monday, the opposition party’s zoning committee, chaired by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, made the recommendation public.
He did say, though, that no decision had been made on where the presidency would be zoned.
This sparked a fierce debate within the party, with some members objecting to chairmanship zoning.
After the chairmanship was rezoned to the north, a severe crack appeared.
PDP governors from the south, backed by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, reportedly campaigned for the chairmanship to be rezoned to the north.
The move is intended to pave the way for a southern contender to emerge as the party’s presidential nominee.
The governors in the south are demanding that the country’s future president be from their region.
Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, told journalists after the NEC meeting on Thursday that the zoning of chairmanship to the north had been approved.
He further stated that all positions currently held by people from the South will be transferred to the North, and vice versa.
NEC also agreed to keep the October 30 convention date, according to Ologbondiyan.
