Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, Tuesday, said that all those who had obtained the presidential forms were free to contest its presidential ticket regardless of zones.

The PDP spokesman said that the National Executive Committee of the party, which would meet on Wednesday next week, would set aside the party’s Zoning Committee report, which recommended that the presidential ticket should be zoned.

In a swift response, a media aide of a former Anambra State Governor and PDP presidential aspirant, Mr. Peter Obi, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, said although the party’s decision remained supreme, it would be an injustice if the South-East was denied the presidential ticket.

However, the PDP spokesman explained that the constitution gives all qualified Nigerians the right to contest and not be discriminated against.

He said even if the party decided to zone its presidential ticket, it would not stop anybody from contesting.

Ologunagba recalled that when the party zoned its presidential ticket to the South in 1999, the late former Governor of Kano State, Abubakar Rimi, decided to test his popularity on the field.

He added that during the party’s last national convention, some officers emerged through consensus but a few others decided to test their popularity on the field.

He, therefore, affirmed that this would be the same approach that would be implemented by the PDP.

Ologunagba said, “Our processes, our constitution are subject to the constitution of Nigeria. The constitution guarantees every qualified Nigerian be able to aspire to any position in this country. The party cannot stop anybody from contesting because that will be at variance with the constitution.

“In 1999, the PDP zoned its presidential ticket to the South. Remember that at the Jos convention, late former Governor Abubakar Rimi of Kano State said he agreed with the party but said as a Nigerian he would contest and the party did not stop him.

“Recently at the national convention, the party decided to zone certain offices. You will recall that at the national convention, three positions were contested: deputy chairman (North) deputy chairman (South), and national youth leader.”

The PDP spokesman stated that a 37-member committee led by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State had submitted its report which would then be considered by the National Executive Committee of the PDP on Wednesday next week.

However, he said that the NEC – which is the highest decision-making body of the party – would be the one to decide on whether there should be zoning or not.

He assured all contestants that regardless of the decision of the NEC, they would still be allowed to contest.

Reacting to the zoning controversy, Obi’s Media Adviser, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, said it would be unjust for the South-East to be denied the party’s ticket.

The Spokesman for Obi said it was regrettable that the party had decided to jettison the zoning arrangement of the party.