Ortom heads PDP’s zoning panel

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday inaugurated a 37-member zoning committee as it prepares for the 2023 general elections.

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has emerged chairman of the 37-member Zoning committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The minority leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, is the vice-chairman of the committee.

The national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, said earlier yesterday that the chairman would be appointed by members.

The committee’s secretary is Emmanuel Ekpe.

In compliance with the directive of its National Executive Committee (NEC), the PDP had on Tuesday released names of 37 persons to serve in the Committee to determine suitable zoning formula for the 2023 presidential election.

Other members of the Committee are governors Darius Ishaku of Taraba; Samuel Ortom of Benue; and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State .

The committee is also saddled with the responsibilities of sharing of positions of Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and other leadership positions in the two chambers of the National Assembly among the six geopolitical zones.

The names according to a statement by the party’s national organising secretary, Umar Bature, contained a representative of each of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.