The hope of some National Working Committee (NWC) members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of returning after the May 21 National Convention of the party might have been dashed by the proposal made by Governor Emmanuel Udom-led committee for the zoning of the national offices.
The committee, which met in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State over the weekend, zoned the National Chairmanship position to North- East, Deputy National Chairman to South-South while the South-West still retains the position of National Secretary.
However, the post of National Publicity Secretary, which was zoned to South-East in 2012, now goes to South-West while that of National Woman Leader goes to North-West (as against South East). The office of National Treasurer which has been in North-East since 2012 has been zoned to North Central while South-East is expected to produce the National Organising Secretary position, which is currently in North-West. The recommendation is, however, subject to ratification by various organs of the party.
The implication of the latest zoning formula means that the hope of Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary and Mrs. Kema Chikwe, the National Woman Leader, to be part of the next NWC is dashed. Also to lose their positions in the NWC are Bala Buhari, the National Treasurer and Abubakar Mustapha, the National Organising Secretary.
Metuh had earlier said he would be retiring after the National Convention having spent 17 years as an official of PDP. He reiterated this last week when he bemoaned his present corruption trial in court, expressing the fears that some people might use the opportunity to disgrace him and put an end to his political career.
“We know this game,” he boasted. Metuh, however, hinted that he might still change his mind and run for elective position at the convention. A source disclosed that the outgoing National Publicity Secretary is warming up to vie for the position of National Organising Secretary which has now been zoned to South-East.
