This week will be a week of decisions for the Peoples Democratic Party as three of its organs are to meet on crucial issues affecting the party and the nation.



The issues to be decided are zoning, constitution amendment and the release of the guidelines for the PDP members interested in elective offices in 2011.



The three organs are the Board of Trustees, the National Executive Committee and the National Caucus.



The BoT, which is chaired by a former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, will kick-start the activities with its meeting slated for Abuja on Tuesday.



The board is empowered by the PDP to “harmonise, co-ordinate, review and advise on policies, programmes and activities of the party at the national level.”



Our correspondent learnt that it was because of this constitutional provision that members of the board would take a look at the zoning clause in the party and give its advice accordingly.



Feelers from the PDP secretariat in Abuja indicate that the contentious Article 7.2(c) in the party’s constitution might be amended.



The section reads, “In pursuit of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.”



A source close to the party’s top hierarchy, who asked not to be named, said that the BoT members were also likely to agree to an amendment of the party’s constitution to bring it in line with the new Electoral Act, which bars automatic delegates to party’s convention.



The new Act makes it mandatory for aides of the President and governors that are interested in voting at the party’s conventions to first go for election in their various wards.



It was, however, not clear if the BoT would also deliberate on the proposed guidelines for the party’s nomination of candidates for various offices for the 2011 general elections.



However, it was also learnt that the decision to give the BoT the opportunity to peruse the guidelines would be taken by the members of the party’s National Working Committee.



The party’s National Caucus will then meet on Wednesday. Thereafter, an elaborate debate would be entertained on the issues discussed by the BoT.



Those, who are members of the caucus, are the national chairman of the party, President and his deputy, three ministers who are to be nominated by the President. One of the ministers must be the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.



Also listed as members of the caucus in the party’s constitution, are the Senate President and his deputy; the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Senate; the Chief Whip and Deputy Whip; the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy; the Chief Whip and his deputy.



The chairman and secretary of the BoT, deputy national chairman, national secretary, legal adviser, treasurer, women leader and youth leader of the party as well as the national security adviser are also members of the caucus.



It is expected that the decisions reached at this meeting might influence the National Executive Committee of the party at its meeting on Thursday.



“You can see that this is going to be week of decisions for us. In fact, it is a loaded week. But I can tell you that whatever we decide this week will go a long way to make or mar the party,” our source said.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008093544551

It is a double edged sword for the PDP. If they insist on Zoning, they risk the angst of the Niger Delta in sending a signal that one of their own is not fit to be president. If they ditch the zoning arangement, the North is angered and minority tribes may never again run for presidential position. The solution may be found in conducting a free and fair primaries open to all. That is throw the bones out there for all the dogs to fight for it but ensure one man one vote in a level playing ground.