Presidential Aspirants on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the Southeast have formally demanded that the party’s presidential ticket be left for the zone.

In a grand show of unity of purpose, four presidential aspirants from the zone, who met in Abuja on Saturday, April 9, 2023, demanded, among others, that in the interest of fairness and of equity, PDP should ensure it’s flag for 2023 presidential election in Nigeria is flown by a credible candidate from the Southeast zone.

Insiders said the aspirants “agreed to work together to ensure a Southeast PDP presidential candidate emerges.

In significant show of solidarity and unity of purpose, presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the South East have demanded that the Party’s presidential ticket for 2023 should be zoned to their area.

The aspirants who attended the meeting were Anyim Pius Anyim, former Senate President and Mr Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor and PDP Vice Presidential Candidate.

Others were Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, a highly revered industrialist and Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze.

In a communique released by the four aspirants after the meeting, which was read by Anyim the aspirants said: “we have agreed to work together as a team and that “we will work together to ensure that a South Easterner emerges as PDP flag bearer.”

They also said, “we intend to consult with other zones on this issue and it is based on fairness and equity.

“In doing so, it is important to note that we have always supported other zones and we now expect them to reciprocate”.

They added, “it is to our knowledge that more aspirants may have obtained forms under PDP and we hope they will join us later.”

Responding to questions from reporters on whether they were working towards presenting a consensus candidate from among them, Anyim said, “When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. We will work together in the interest of the party, in the interest of the nation and in the interest of the Southeast.”

It would be recalled that there has been deep disquiet in the PDP since the 37-member Zoning Committee of the party announced its decision to jettison PDP’s well known zoning policy only for 2023 Presidency and as a result throw the contest for the party’s presidential ticket open to all the regions.

Informed political analysts argued that the controversy could be traced to the belief by many that it should be the turn of the South to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023 and that since the Southeast is the only zone in the South yet to produce Nigeria’s President since 1999’s return to elective democracy, the presidential ticket should be zoned to it (Southeast).

To re-echo that belief, the Southeast PDP leaders said for the sake of fairness, justice and equity, the presidential ticket should be zoned to the region ahead of 2023 Elections.

On whether they agreed on or will eventually settle for a consensus candidate amongst them, the aspirants said “when we get to the bridge, we’ll cross it.

They revealed that they will work together to gain support of other zones.