The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that only the All Progressives Congress (APC) can afford to zone Presidency in the next general elections.
Speaking during a television interview on Tuesday, Wike noted that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party should concentrate on winning the 2023 Presidential election and not zoning.
Wike said that he was indifferent to the comment made by Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew that zoning should not determine who emerges the next President in 2023.
He said; “As an opposition party, we look at all variables. What will make us win the election (comes) first. That is what is important to us. The ruling party can say that (zoning) but for the opposition party, there are variables.”
When asked to state his position on the raging zoning debate, the governor responded, “It depends. As an opposition party, we look at all variables. Forget about other parties. We look at all variables and our own concern is how do we win, how do we get back power.
“So, it is not one factor that will influence (decisions). So, many variables will come into play. So, it will be wrong for me as an opposition person to say this must be done now. No, I will not do that.”
Wike explained that when he contested the Rivers governorship election in 2015, there were suggestions he should not be given the PDP’s ticket, as he is from the same zone as his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi.
But he was eventually allowed to run out of necessity.
