Opinion: Musing On Delta PDP Zoning Formula For Guber Candidate

By Richardson Ogwezzy
I write in response to a recent online publication on September 1, 2020, by NewsDen titled: “It is the turn of Delta Central to produce the Next Governor” by Barr. Kingsley Esiso, Chairman, PDP Delta State Chapter.

According to him, it is a zoning formula arranged by the party and inspired by His Excellency, Chief James Ibori, the former governor of Delta State and the foremost leader of PDP in Delta State.

The publication has “raised dust” in many quarters, especially people that take active part in politics. Some of the pertinent questions raised are, was there a zoning formula when Chief James Ibori contested his primaries? I am aware that contestants came from all over the state. Late Chief Joshua Enueme from Delta North was next to Chief Ibori, in the result. His Excellency, Dr. E.E Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State contested primaries with governorship aspirants across the state. The likes of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa’ that took second position, Chief (Barr.) Ovie Omo-Agege from Central, Chief Godwin Obielum from Delta North also participated. The very recent was, His Excellency, Sen (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa. During his primaries, contestants were also drawn from across the State. I can vividly recall that the likes of Hon. David Edevbie from Delta Central came second, Chief Godwin Orubebe, from Delta South, Hon. Victor Ochei from Delta North and a host of others contested. Perhaps, I may not understand what is called political zoning formula in our PDP. I see political zoning formula as an idea or design to allow a particular political area, ward, LGA, Constituency, district or zone etc to feature (produce) a candidate for the general election. The purpose of zoning is to ensure even and equitable distribution of appointments and elective political positions in all the political areas within the State as the case may be. This is to minimise rancour, acrimony, bad blood and waste of resources during elections. If zoning formula were in operation in Delta State, during the former governors till now, there would not have been aspirants from across the three Senatorial districts. This is the gravamen of my writing.

It is a painful thing for not only Sen.(Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa and the good people of Delta North Senatorial district, after he had done his primary election with preponderance of aspirants which had never been done before, only to hear that zoning formula has been existing for many years ago and the position of governorship come 2023 has been zoned to Delta Central. If zoning was in existence, His Excellency, Sen.(Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa would not have gotten a pyrrhic success in his primaries. This is just like when a thorn breaks into ones leg, others will say, use harpoon to remove it instead of razor blade. When it was the purported turn of Delta North, political subterfuge came in and aspirants increased to rob Delta North of the noble chance, but to God be the glory. At this early stage, zoning formula is announced, I have been wondering to no avail who announced the zoning of 2015? Let me ask again, if His Excellency Sen(Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa did not win in the primaries of 2015, will PDP Delta State Chapter say there was zoning? I know that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives liberty for all to contest but at this point the party provision in chapter one section 7.3c should be upheld in the circumstances of achieving justice, equity and fair play.

I know that Delta State PDP will assume there was political zoning formula, because governorship positions in Delta State have been moving in a natural setting rather than purported zoning arrangement. I have discovered that there are basically two types of political zoning formula in Nigeria, namely ulterior political zoning formula and exclusive. Ulterior zoning is where a particular political party assigns a political area, ward, LGA, district or zone etc to produce a candidate but all the interested aspirants (contestants) are all allowed to participate in the primaries but at the end the party’s choice will be taken. The idea is to fulfill all righteousness. This type seems to be practised in Delta State PDP. The ulterior type is dangerous because it can boomerang and when it backfires, it truncates the entire system. Ulterior zoning formula can be likened to two children wrestling, when one takes advantage over the other, he turns it to a fight. Take for example, there can be a case where an aspirant is politically adept, he can surreptitiously swindle elections through finessing and takes the lead then the arrangement is altered. Apart from that, there could be cases where the person that takes first position out of ill-luck may be found incapacitated and may not be able to contest, the second may be chosen. If the second is from another Senatorial district as the case of the Governor, this brings alteration to the zoning formula. The exclusive political zoning, as the name implies, is a situation whereby all the contestants (aspirants) are mandatorily required to allow all contestants to come from one political bloc recognised by law.

This is observed to be the best formula, because it reduces political largesse. It equally ensures equitable distribution of political appointments.

Statistically speaking, having analysed this, His Excellency, Sen.(Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has been highly experienced and well versed in Nigeria’s politics. He has known the plight, the needs of the people in the State and has transcended from the office of the Governor to that of a political restorer in his governance. He has ensured that many political appointments and elective positions that have eluded some wards, local government areas and districts were restored. The jinx of political appointment neglect in many LGAs, Constituencies and Senatorial districts in the State have been broken. Needless to mention his developmental strides which he has been excellently and extraordinarily rated. I do not need to fetch water into a pot already filled with water. It is a waste of time and energy.

I believe his idea of restoring was borrowed from Acts 1:6. where the Romans were asking Jesus if he will at that time restore the kingdom of Isreal. This is the problem we are having in governance, the world, right from old needs restoration, we are to restore peace, restore security, restore honesty, restore job opportunities, restore infrastructural facilities, restore education, restore health care delivery system, restore our economy to mention but a few. A situation where government tends to restoring, you will observe that complains of the ruled will be minimised. No wonder no political administration past and present in the country will be eulogised. Apart from those that are feeding (benefiting) directly from those in power. They lack the wisdom that restoring is what is needed to ascend to the next level. We need who will restore the State from the shackles of under-development, unemployment, insecurity, illiteracy, insurgence, corruption, cultism, poverty, bad governance, social vices etc

With due respect sir, His Excellency, Sen (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, the Only Political Restorer of our time, I pray you, to use your good offices, through the PDP caucus in the State House of Assembly, to move motions to back up the decisions for zoning formula in Delta State. Beginning with Delta Central with exclusive zoning formula. Furthermore, exclusive political zoning formula has been ranked the best, for it ensures equitable representation. As a Political Restorer, Deltans really count on you, because they know that there is no political venture you will embark and you will not succeed. What we call political zoning formula is a mere charade. Deltans are clamouring for exclusive type of political zoning. This is because, Delta State always sets the pace while others will follow

The little idea on political zoning formula I have enunciated, of which no efforts have been made so far to explain political zoning formula, to identify the types, advantages and disadvantages, it will not be out of place, if I say, political scientists/politicians should have critically study of the idea for the growth of our democracy.

Richardson Ogwezzy is a Statistician, Edu. Administrator and a Ph.D candidate of Delsu, Abraka