For throwing open the contest for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 2023 presidential ticket, Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF) has described as unfortunate the decision of the National Executive Committee of the party to uphold the Governor Ortom Committee's recommendation, stressing that the party has dug its own grave.

PANDEF, in a press statement issued on Thursday signed by Hon. Ken Robinson, its National Publicity Secretary, said the PDP has by the decision simply dug its own grave, stressing that sadly, the main opposition party in its constitution unequivocally commits to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices in pursuance to the principles of equity, justice and fairness.

The statement reads, "The opinion that the PDP is not obligated to zone its presidential ticket for the 2023 election, is preposterous and illogical, likewise, the implied consideration that it's only a northern candidate that can secure victory for the party in the 2023 presidential election is unfortunate.

"Do we need to remind the PDP that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan are not northerners, who both won presidential elections for the PDP in 1999, 2003, and 2011 respectively?

"It bears stating that the presidency is not the presidency of a party; it is the presidency of Nigeria. The fact that President Muhammadu Buhari is of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is extraneous," the statement noted.

PANDEF in the statement maintained that it expects the APC to take advantage of the awful indiscretion of the PDP to consolidate itself as a truly nationalistic party, committed to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria, by ensuring the emergence of a southern presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

"Nigeria is a great country of outstanding men and women, with incredible possibilities; we cannot afford to fritter the labours of our heroes, past and present, by allowing rapacious politicians to callously and carelessly jettison arrangements and understandings that have sustained the oneness and stability of the country over the years, now," PANDEF states.