Despite Ohanaeze’s claims, Southeast contenders are the weakest in the PDP ticket fight for 2023.

All political parties must complete their primaries in less than two months, according to the timeline set by the election umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The main opposition party is still uncertain on the subject of zoning, since Samuel Ortom’s committee was unable to definitively zone the party’s ticket, despite the Southern governors’ desire that the ticket be zoned to the south.

TGP BAZE examines the strength of the key contenders in the race along regional lines in the run-up to the primaries.

As of the time of writing, about 13 hopefuls had indicated their interest in being the PDP’s flagbearer.

Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nyesom Wike, Bukola Saraki, Aminu Tambuwal, Ayodele Fayose, Udom Emmanuel, Bala Mohammed Anyim Pius Anyim, Sam Ohuabunwa, Nwachukwu Anakwenze, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Dele Momodu, and others are among the notables.

Candidates from the Southeast

Despite Ohaneze’s plea for the South-East zone to be permitted to produce the president in 2023, the momentum in the race does not appear to be on the side of the PDP’s South-East hopefuls.

Only Peter Obi, one of the four regional aspirants, has a national view. The majority of the candidates are no longer in office and do not have the same financial arrangements as candidates from other areas.

Furthermore, the region’s strength in the PDP is weakened. Today, the PDP has only two governors from the South-East: Abia and Enugu. While these governors have been meeting other southern governors, the aspirants from the South-East have been left out in the cold.

Olisa Metuh, a former spokesperson of the PDP, had also complained about the relegation of the region during a political meeting in Abuja.

“Our collective position had been that the ticket be zoned to the South. But for Governor Wike to demand that it should be zoned to the Southsouth has created the impression that the Southeast is no longer in the reckoning,” he said.

Recognizing this flaw, the four candidates are collaborating to find a consensus candidate in response to Wike and the continuing northern consensus by Saraki, Tambuwa, and Bala Mohammed.

In recent weeks, several of the Northern hopefuls, including Saraki, Tambuwal, and Bala Mohammed, have met to settle on a consensus candidate, while their proxies have appeared on prominent television shows to urge against zoning.

Governor Wike appears to have reaped the benefits of the South-vulnerability. east’s He has positioned himself as the candidate capable of dethroning the reigning party.

The belligerent Wike has been touring the country, telling anybody who would listen that he is the only person who can dethrone the APC.

Both Anyim and Obi do not have PDP governors in their respective states of Anambra and Ebonyi. Ohuabunwa has no political background.

Choosing a VP position

According to a source close to the Southeast consensus agreement, if things continue as they are, the area may settle for a VP spot.

According to the source, the four candidates lack the individual political capital and resources to take on Atiku, the Northern Consensus Group, or even Wike.

“It is clear that the governors of the Southeast are unwilling to support the candidates because they lack a national perspective.”

“The most they can hope for is to bargain for a VP position, but talking about it is risky since it will indicate they are working against the interests of the south.”

“As Governor Wike travels around the nation, how many of the southeast candidates have had the opportunity to visit Borno, Kebbi, or other parts of the country?” The source was questioned.

However, over the weekend, Peter Obi in an interview on Channels TV, said the Southeast is not in the race for the ticket to negotiate, he did not rule out vice president position after the primaries.