2023 Presidency: Kawu Baraje Says Zoning Is Part Of PDP Constitution

A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Kawu Baraje has revealed that zoning is an integral part of the party’s constitution.

He stated that previously, zoning was an oral tradition that the founding fathers of the PDP adopted but in 2011, the party’s constitution was reviewed and zoning was included in it.

Baraje made this known on Wednesday during a chat with newsmen in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

His revelation comes amidst calls from certain political quarters for the zoning of the 2023 presidency to the south while some other stakeholders are of the opinion that competency should override zoning.

According to Baraje who is set to be coronated as the ‘Tafida of Ilorin’ on Friday the only condition that can make zoning not apply according to the party’s constitution is if the National Executive Council (NEC) decide otherwise.

He said zoning is “not in the constitution of PDP before, but it is now clearly stated in the PDP constitution that zoning should be respected.

“There is a caveat in the constitution which says that zoning should be respected for the purpose of giving a sense of belonging to all members of the party and for all-inclusiveness except and only when a resolution of the national executive council (NEC) decide otherwise.

“It is stated in the constitution black and white, it was reviewed in the constitution sometime around 2011. Although, before then, it was an oral tradition of PDP and it was even as good as being written.

“I met it like that when I took over as party national secretary in 2008. Even when it was an oral tradition of the party, it was highly respected.

“It was formally included in our party constitution in 2011 when we were reviewing the party constitution before I left in 2011.”

Asked about the recent comment of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar that zoning is not a part of the constitution, Baraje replied: “I think what His excellency, Alhaji Atiku, was talking about was Nigeria constitution, not PDP. If I got him right, he said zoning is not in Nigeria’s constitution.”