The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has debunked the rumour circulating within the political circle, saying it has not zone its presidential ticket for the 2023 general election.
There has been clamour to zone its presidential ticket to the South on the ground that President Muhammadu Buhari is from the North and the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, is also from the North.
Yet there is a counter-clamour to throw the ticket open for all the six geo-political zones to vie.
Among the 23 presidential aspirants still left in the race for the APC ticket, 19 are from the South, while four are from the North.
Among the Southern aspirants, eight are from the South-east, which has the least number of delegates; seven are from the South-west; and the South-south has four.
In the North, North-west has two, while North-east and North-central has one each.
The APC aspirants from South-west are Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Ajayi Borrofice, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
Those from the South-east are Mr. Emeka Nwajiuba, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Engr. Dave Umahi, Senator Ken Nnamani, Mr. Nicholas Nwagbo, Mr. Ikeobasi Mokelu and Mrs. Uju Ohanenye.
The contenders from the South-south are Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Prof Ben Ayade, and Mr. Tein Jack-Rich.
The aspirants from the North are Alhaji Yahaya Bello (North-central), Senate President Ahmad Lawan (North-east), Mohammed Badaru (North-west) and Ahmed Yerima (North-west).
Specifically on zoning of the party’s presidential ticket, its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, said: “There is no such decision made by the National Working Committee.”