The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has said that the focus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 Presidential election, should be winning, and not zoning,
Governor Wike made the disclosure on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily Programme, on Tuesday.
The Governor, stated that zoning, which is an arrangement that ensures rotation of political power among ethnic blocs, is a luxury that only ruling parties can afford.
Governor Wike disclosed that when he was contesting the Governorship election in 2015, there were suggestions that he should not be given the ticket of the PDP, because of the zoning arrangement in the State, but out of necessity, he was allowed to run.
Responding to a question, he said: “When I came on board, people were saying no, the position should not control us (sic), because of my ethnic group, but there was an argument that we are an opposition party. What we want to do is to win elections.
“As an opposition party, we look at all variables. What will make us win the election (comes) first. That is what is important to us. The ruling party can say that (zoning), but for the opposition party, there are variables.”
When asked to state his position on the raging zoning debate, the Governor responded: “It depends. As an opposition party, we look at all variables. Forget about other parties. We look at all variables, and our own concern is how do we win, how do we get back power.
“So, it is not one factor that will influence (decisions). So, many variables will come into play. So, it will be wrong for me as an opposition person, to say this must be done now. No, I will not do that.”
