Elder statesman Olu Falae says calls for the zoning of Nigeria’s presidency to a particular region is not constitutional.

Mr Falae, a former National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), stated this during a visit by the executives of the Ondo State chapter of the party in Akure.

The newly-elected executives were led on the visit by its chairman, Dele Thomas.

The former presidential candidate, while speaking on the contentious issue of zoning, said it was not part of the conditions for Nigeria’s presidency.

“Politicians should stop deceiving the people by putting zoning in the party constitution, where it is not valid. The Nigerian Constitution supersedes the party’s constitution.

“There is no provision for zoning in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Zoning is not part of the conditions for Nigeria’s presidency,” the former secretary to the federal government said.

Mr False said the zoning arrangement won’t pass legal scrutiny if an aspirant challenges it in court, saying “the Nigerian Constitution will override what is in the party constitution.”

The elder statesman affirmed his retirement from partisan politics but said he would continue to offer his wisdom to those who sought it.

“l will never come back to partisan politics. l have paid my dues but I will continue to support you.

“Whatever we can do to restore sanity to SDP, we will do it so that we can attain the heights we were.

“Nobody will benefit from the crisis. crisis kills parties,” the party’s former national chairman noted.

NAN