A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, and the Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Abdullahi Adamu, has described as wishful thinking, the idea of zoning presidency to the South in 2023.
Mr Adamu, a two-term former governor of Nasarawa State, stated this at a news conference in Abuja, monitored by The Punch.The Senator maintained that since the idea of zoning is not in the nation’s constitution, every eligible Nigerian was free to contest the 2023 presidential election regardless of his or her state of origin.
He said: “Nowhere in the Nigerian constitution says we should zone any public office.
There is federal character. But not that parties must zone positions for presidency during election.
The constitution is being reviewed. If you want a specific provision that presidential positions be zoned, you say it – and tell us how you want it to be zoned.
“Is it going to be from one zone to another? You can’t just wish away, a situation that is fundamental to a country. You can’t talk of merit and talk of zoning. You can’t.
“Let’s just go by merit. Let every party find a way of selling itself in a manner that will garner the kind of votes that will win the election. It’s as simple as that.“Do we have anything like that in the American constitution? Are we more democratic than the Americans?
It is democracy. Why do you want to change it? Wishful thinking only. How do you zone it?
“Yes, somebody is saying the East has not had a president. I agree and I sympathise with them but the constitution says you can only become president through the ballot box.
“We have been saying it during elections that every vote must count. So, why do you want to zone? Zone your mind if you want to zone