Group urges parties to zone 2023 presidential ticket to South

A group, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups, has urged political parties to zone the 2023 presidential ticket to the South in the spirit of fairness and equity. 

The coalition said it has been mobilizing young Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2023 general elections. 

Bassey Williams, the coalition President, who was joined by members of the organization as he spoke to journalists in Abuja on Friday, said the North has had its fair share of the nation’s leadership and, as a result, the 2023 presidential ticket should be given to the South.  

“We have watched with keen interest various agitations across the zones of our federating units, and we have come up with the agenda of championing and clamoring for a power shift to the South by 2023.” He spoke 

“There is no question that the North has had its fair share of leadership in the country, and now is the time to zone the presidency to Nigeria’s southern region, which, in our perspective, deserves it.” 

Williams stated that political parties can’t exist without the nation, and that the national interest should take precedence above the personal interests of individuals who want the North to keep power in 2023. 

“Let it be known that if Nigeria does not exist, neither the All Progressives Congress nor the People’s Democratic Party will exist. The national interest must take precedence above the personal interests of individuals pressuring the parties to abandon the traditional presidential rotation program,” he argued. 

The group warned that the country was already beset by insecurity and other social and economic problems, and that politicians should not add to the country’s woes.