Former PDP National Chairman, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has stated that ticket zoning is a key aspect of the party’s constitution.
He added that ticket zoning was previously an oral tradition that the PDP’s founding fathers accepted. He also stated that when the party’s constitution was examined in 2011, zoning was incorporated.
Baraje revealed this to reporters in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, on Wednesday.
His announcement arrived amid calls from some political circles for the president of 2023 to be zoned to the south; others believe that competency should take precedence over zoning.
According to Baraje, who is set to be crowned as the ‘Tafida of Ilorin’ on Friday, the only way the party’s constitution prevents ticket zoning is if the National Executive Council (NEC) decides otherwise.
He stated that zoning “was not previously in the PDP constitution, but it is now clearly stated in the PDP constitution that zoning must be respected.”
“Zoning shall be observed for the aim of imparting a sense of belonging to all members of the party and for all-inclusiveness, save and only when a decision of the national executive council (NEC) decides differently,” according to the constitution.
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“It is mentioned in plain and white in the constitution, and it was revised in the constitution around 2011. Although, prior to then, PDP had an oral legacy that was as good as being written”.
“When I took over as party national secretary in 2008, it was like that. Even when it was just a party’s oral heritage, it was held in high regard”.
“When we were updating the party constitution before I departed in 2011, it was legally put in our party constitution.”