2023: Group To PDP: It’s Pay Back Time; Zone Presidency To South-east

A group within the PDP, Equity Group for South East, has kicked off a major campaign to urge the party to zone the Presidential ticket to the South East.

This was contained in a statement, signed by the National Coordinator, Nze Ugo-Akpe Onwuka,  Mr Amaechi Chukwu, National Secretary and Hon Ichie Ken Agbim, Director of Communication & Strategy.

The Group says for justice and equity, for all the support the South-east has given to the PDP since 1999, it is only fair to zone the office of the President to the South-east.

The Group, also, said it smacks of injustice to deny the Zone this opportunity to occupy the Presidential seat, seeing that it is the only one in the tripod that holds Nigeria as a country which has not produced the President.

The statement reads:

“We of the PDP EQUITY GROUP FOR SOUTH EAST has watched with keen interest the jostling in the national political space for the 2023 Presidency and wish to join the clarion call for the zoning of the 2023 Presidency to the South East by our great party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”

“This call has become urgent and expedient in view of the growing public opinion that the South-east, as an intergral part of Nigeria, and one of the tripod with which the country was erected should be given a sense of belonging with this singular action.

“It’s also pertinent to note that the South-east is the only geopolitical zone that is yet to produce the President or Vice President since the advent of our new democracy since 1999.”

“Events and situations have shown that there is no other better time to give the South-east the opportunity to offer leadership to this Country than the 2023 Presidency.

“It’s on record that the South-east has been one of the biggest supporters of People’s Democratic Party since 1999.

“There is no gainsaying that this is pay back time to the South-east by our great Party, PDP.”

“Information filtering in from various sources also suggest that in the spirit of fairness, equity justice and unwritten zoning arrangement between the North and South, other major political parties are wont to follow this line of thought.

“We, therefore, want to use this medium to urge the People’s Democratic Party to seize the moment and make history.

“We also extend our hand of friendship to beckon on all other aspirants from other geopolitical zones to rest their personal ambitions and fully support the South-east in recognition of the contributions of the South-east in the building of our great Party and Nation, and to promote National cohesion, unity, peace and progress which is the foundation upon which the country was founded.

“We also call on fellow Nigerians to support this call and create a united, peaceful and prosperous country of our dream.

“It is very obvious that it is the vital ingredients of inclusiveness and acceptance that would ultimately foster peace and national development.”

So far, in the PDP, only two people from the South-east have declared interest in the office. They are former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, and Biardroom guru, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa.

From the other Zones, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was also the Party’s candidate in 2019, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, an aspirant in 2019, have declared interest.

However, it is expected that more of them, including the Governors of Sokoto and Bauchi States, Aminu Tambuwal and Bala Mohamed, respectively, will soon declare their interest in the race.