The INC spoke through its national publicity secretary, Victor Burobu, at a stakeholders meeting for traditional rulers, elders, chiefs and opinion leaders to emphasise the need for all parties in the eastern zone to give regard to the principle of zoning and rotation in choosing a candidate that will represent the party at the 2015 gubernatorial election.
The INC spokesman declared:” “There is need for the parties in Rivers State to respect the principle of zoning and rotation in picking candidates that will represent them at the 2015 gubernatorial election. The INC will not work with a political party that will not present an Ijaw as its flag bearer.”
Burobo asserted that in Rivers State, any party that did not pick an Ijaw man would not be voted for, because in 1999, the Ijaw willingly relinquished power to others. He said they have waited for nearly 16 years and cannot wait any longer. According to him, as an ethnic group, Ijaw people are responsible with power; and had never oppressed others when they were in power.
What has triggered off the groundswell of agitation for adherence to the principle of zoning or rotation was the announcement of the state PDP, on 12 September, at the end of its state executive meeting that the party will not zone the governorship of the party to any group, insisting that “any candidate that is qualified within the party should present himself for the primaries. The party will field the best candidate at the 2015 gubernatorial election”.
Obuah disclosed this while presenting a six-point communiqué issued at the end of a meeting of the state executive committee of the party.
The communiqué said that, for the purpose of the 2015 elections, the party is poised to reclaim all its lost offices in the state. Consequently, the party shall ensure internal democracy and provide a level playing field for every member seeking to contest any elective position.
According to Obuah, in the history of the party, there had not been any time that elective positions were reserved for a section of the state. He stated that elective positions have always been thrown open for any qualified person to contest if the person so desires.
He alleged that some of its elders had been calling meetings of aspirants with a view to streamlining and screening them so that a candidate would be selected to represent a section of the state.
PDP cautioned an unnamed member of the Board of Trustees of the party, whom it said was trying to hijack the functions of the party. It also warned aspirants and members against attending any meetings or screening exercises not authorised by the party and contrary to the party constitution.
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