Following fears that the fallout of the presidential primaries of the All Progressive Congress may tear the party apart, concerned leaders of the party are considering the use of zoning to reduce tension.
Apparently, leaders pushing for zoning had started reaching out to the major contenders with a view to getting them to agree to a power-sharing deal.
A party source, who pleaded anonymity for fear of retribution, said unlike previous situations when the party took the lead in such negotiations, the aspirants are being pressured into negotiating among themselves.
The source said, “The presidential aspirants may be left with no choice but to negotiate among themselves to come up with an acceptable power-sharing formula to preserve the party’s cohesion ahead of the 2015 elections.
“This will involve the distribution of elective political offices along the six geopolitical zones in the country. Some of us have forwarded this proposal to the party’s National Executive Committee.”
Another source told our correspondent that the party was also working towards ensuring that whoever emerged as candidate would get the support of the losers.
However, those who lose would be compensated with appointive positions.
When contacted, a member of the Maj.-Gen Muhammadu Buhari campaign group, Osita Okechukwu, said he was unaware of any proposal to zone offices.
He said “I can only say, in principle, that the party may have zoned the presidency to the North. I say ‘in principle’; which part of the North is what I cannot say. If you recall, such arrangements have been made by various parties since 1999.”
The Atiku Abubakar campaign could not be reached for comments as at the time of filing this report. Calls to the mobile telephone of Atiku’s spokesperson, Mr. Garba Shehu, indicated that the phone was switched off.
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed, denied knowledge of a zoning arrangement.
He, however, said, “Whatever proposal is brought before the party, the party will consider it alongside other options.”