Spark News Daily reports on Monday that Sir Paul Chukwuma, one of the aspirants had dismissed speculations that APC is adopting a zoning strategy.
Prof. Okonkwo, who spoke with Journalists at the APC national secretariat on Tuesday after submitting his Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, disclosed that the zoning propaganda was being sponsored by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
He maintained that APGA’s call for zoning is a calculated ploy to mislead the electorate while he vowed to reclaim the Anambra Government House for APC.
“Our party is managed by seasoned politicians who will not fall for APGA’s gimmicks. President Tinubu is a strategic politician who understands the importance of party loyalty and would not sabotage his party’s interest for the sake of Soludo.
“The only party shouting about zoning to the South is APGA because they know that selecting a candidate from the South would be dead on arrival. Even basic political permutations confirm this. APC is not zoning; we are choosing the best candidate to give Anambra the leadership it deserves”, Okonkwo noted.
He emphasized that the people of Anambra deserves quality leadership and that APC’s priority is to field the best candidate rather than be misled by APGA’s zoning propaganda.
“APGA was founded by the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, whom we all revere. However, as of today, APGA is non-existent in Anambra. What we have is the so-called ‘Solution government.’ APGA governors have benefited from the party, but the people of Anambra have not. The time has come for Anambra to connect to the center through the APC.”
Still on the zoning, Prof. Okonkwo argued that Anambra Central would be favoured if zoning were to be considered.
“Anambra South produced the first governor in 1999, who ruled for four years. Peter Obi from Anambra Central ruled for eight years, followed by Willie Obiano from the North, who also completed eight years. Soludo from the South is currently completing his four-year term. If zoning is truly based on senatorial districts, then it is the turn of Anambra Central”, he added.
According to him, APC is focused on victory and good governance rather than zoning arrangements.
“At the end of the day, we might choose to rotate leadership, but what we are witnessing in Anambra is rotation, not zoning. True zoning happens when all political parties agree and sign up to a rotation system. Since 1999, we have always had candidates from all zones contesting. This shows that zoning, as APGA is presenting it, is merely a political gimmick”, Prof. Okonkwo said.
