No Zoning In Democracy –Cross River PDP Chieftain
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State and philanthropist, High Chief Higgins Peters has said there’s no zoning in democracy, while reacting to calls for power shift from the Northern Senatorial District to the Southern Senatorial District in the state in 2023.
There is renewed clamour over which zone should produce the governor in the state in 2023.
The PDP leadership in the Southern Senatorial Zone say after the tenure of the incumbent Governor Prof Ben Ayade it’s their turn to produce the governor in 2023.
Reacting, Peters, who spoke with journalists on Saturday in Calabar shortly after the Calabar branch of the Nigerian Bar Association gave him an award for integrity in business, along with other recipients such as Chris Agara, said “In democracy, there is no zoning. Was there any time the three zones did not contest the governorship ticket against one another?
“In 2023 the Northern Senatorial District would decide where the governor comes from because we have the highest voting population among the three zones, and the incumbency factor. The incumbent Governor Prof Ben Ayade is from that zone and he would have a say about who succeeds him.
“Any Cross Riverian that has capacity should be governor. I believe in politics of capacity, what you have to offer.”
He also spoke on the recent Supreme Court judgement on Cross River North Senatorial District by-election of December 5, 2020 that declared Jarigbe Agom as candidate of PDP and winner of the election as against Stephen Odey who had earlier been declared winner.
“The Supreme Court’s decision is final. All parties must accept the judgement of the court so that the institution will be respected. Whatever happened should be taken in good faith,” he said.
If not zoning will the Northern senatorial district of cross river ever dreamed of becoming a governor. I the their selfish decision will not bar or references to their children.the voting strength in the north is not up to 40% voting strength in Calabar South along.live that figure.the North can only bring some one from Central to cause confusion, just as Sunday Onor is bring proposed or projected.belive you the South will produce the nest governor.the South no the plane and confusion but be careful, because what plays up, also come to play down. David was not a king forever.