Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the South-South.
He made the call while speaking at the weekend in Benin, during a reception in honour of Chief Dan Orbih, who was recently elected National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the PDP.
Recall that the South-South under the PDP produced President Goodluck Jonathan who took over the mantle of leadership in 2010, after President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s death.
Jonathan later contested in 2011 and won and administered the affairs of the country until the 2015 elections.
He later contested for re-election in 2015 but lost to, Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the event, Obaseki said for equity to prevail, the South-South region should be allowed to produce the next president.
“Presidency must come back to South-South and you (Orbih) must go round the country to let them know that we can’t be cheated. We expect you to deliver the presidency to the zone,” Obaseki said.
Meanwhile, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers has warned members of the PDP against ganging up against the state ahead of the 2023 general election.
Wike, according to a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke at the weekend during the PDP campaign inauguration for the April 17 Local Government election at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt.
The statement read, “Meanwhile, the governor has warned those within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who want to gang up against Rivers State to be circumspect, as no other State has given more votes to the PDP since 1999 than Rivers.
“The governor stated that some persons within the PDP were conspiring against Rivers State and warned them to desist because the State has the capacity to ruffle the party having delivered the highest number of vote for her in all the general elections since 1999”.
Wike also directed PDP chairmanship candidates to remain in their respective council headquarters to govern when elected.