– The PDP has been asked by Senator Kwankwaso to consider picking its presidential candidate from the North West if it wants to win the 2019 general election
– He said if the APC is fielding a candidate from the zone, it is also necessary for the PDP to do same
– The former governor said he is better qualified for the party’s presidential ticket
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwaso, a former governor of Kano state and presidential aspirant of on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wants the party to consider zoning the presidency to the northwest in the forthcoming 2019 elections.
Speaking on Monday, August 20, in Benin while addressing PDP delegates and members during his nationwide consultation on his presidential aspiration, Kwankwaso said the northwest is the most populous region in the country, Daily Trust reports.
He stated that it is necessary for the PDP to consider fielding its candidate from the zone if it is true that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is fielding a candidate from there.
“If you are selecting a candidate, you have to under this circumstances look at the geography, history and population of the country. It is a common knowledge based on previous census that Kano state is the most populous state and northwest is the most populous region in the country.
“So, if it is true that our former party is fielding a candidate from the northwest, it is also necessary for the PDP to consider fielding its candidate from the zone.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the South South and South East are very solid in the PDP. I believe that what we will do in the North with what will come out in the South West, I have no doubt that PDP will be victorious in the 2019 presidential election,” he said.
The former governor added that he was at a vantage position to lead the PDP and Nigeria with his wealth of experience as two-time governor, minister of defence and senator.
According to him, he had contested elections 15 times and only lost twice, in the last 26 years.
“Everyone can contest to get the party’s ticket and getting it is one thing, but the most important thing is winning the election. I am better qualified for the ticket. I am in the PDP to add value and I believe it is only Kwankwaso that can bring this to table in all the states of the federation,” he said.
Kwankwaso further advised the party to do the right thing after looking at the facts and figures on ground to avoid making mistakes.
He added that failure to do the right thing could create serious challenge to the party in the 2019 elections.
Recall that Kwankwaso, a serving senator representing Kano Central, along with 14 other senators announced their defection from the APC to the PDP in a letter read on the floor of the Senate by the Senate president Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, July 24.
Following his defection, supporters of the Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s political group, Kwankwansiyya Movement in Nasarawa state, on Wednesday, August 8, joined their leader by dumping the APC for the PDP.
The supporters of Kwankwaso stormed the state secretariat of the PDP and declared their defection from the APC with symbolic burning of brooms.
