Despite the denial from Dr Alex Ekwueme, former Nigerian Vice President and one of the founders of the party, zoning the Nigerian presidency to the north in 2011 wouldn't have favoured PDP in the current dispensation.I am sure when doing this, whether written or oral, PDP never thought a President could die in office. They didn't also consider that other political parties could win in the subsequent presidential elections. More over, by so doing, PDP would force other political parties to field candidates from other zones in order not to make the whole thing look like a north affair. Most importantly, zoning is unconstitutional.
It is no surprise then that a horde of aspirants are jostlling for the position of the Vice President soon after the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar'dua. They assume that the VP, most probably a northerer, would be fielded by PDP in 2011. Secondly, they think the zoning system would work.
The PDP zoning system means that the North would retain the presidency for four years or even eight years (It seems two term is now compulsory). It also implied that in event of impeachment, death or incapacitation, the zoning formula would still hold despite the time it occurred. For instance, if Yar'dua had died in 2007 (God forbid!), a northerer should have succeeded him, not the VP, who was a Southerner.
As it were, the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar'dua ended on wednesday night after his death, so did PDP's zoning to the North. The following day, another President was sworn in, who fortunately is a Southerner. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is no longer the Vice President. He is not the Acting President, neither is he standing in for Yar'dua or PDP. He is now Nigerian President and the successor of former President Musa Yar'dua. By so doing, PDP zoning system has already been altered.
It is therefore foolhardy to think that Jonathan is serving out somebody else's tenure. PDP might think so but Nigerians and the world know that there is a new President. If PDP wanted the zoning system, which is unconstitutional, to succeed, a northerner should have succeeded Yar'dua and not Jonathan. In fact, they should have fielded two Northern candidates to be sure of completing the zonal tenure.
How would it appear if PDP ignores the Leader of the party, the President, who also has the power of incumbency to field his VP as presidential candidate for 2011election? Even if they decide to do so as confirmed by its Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, I am sure Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has not gone to Aso Rock "to look at bridges, buildings and designs", he has gone to lead Nigerians and he has already assumed power. At any rate, any other person aspiring for the position through PDP must probably have to wait till 2015. By then, he must have served out his tenure.
Those who are lobbying for the position of Vice President should bear this in mind. PDP therefore must forget the zoning system for now because fate has played a fast one on them.
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