2023: Winning, Not Zoning Should Be PDP’s Focus – Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday noted that the focus of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 Presidential elections should be winning and not zoning.

The PDP chieftain stated this on Tuesday on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

Wike noted that zoning which is an arrangement that ensures rotation of political office among ethnic groups is a luxury that only ruling parties can afford.

Wike who is from the same zone as the former Governor of the state Rotimi Amaechi, when he was contesting for the governorship sit in 2015, noted that there were calls for the party to shift the ticket to another zone but he was allowed to contest out of necessity.

Responding to a question, he said, “When I came on board, people were saying no, the position shouldn’t 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.”