Anambra 2021: Allow only contestants from Anambra South – Group begs political parties
Anambra 2021: Allow only contestants from Anambra South – Group begs political partieA pressure group, Equity Movement in Anambra, has appealed for a power shift to the southern part of the state, as the contest for the November 2021 governorship poll gears up.
The Chairman of the group, Mr Gaius Ezeh made the appeal at a stakeholders’ forum on Tuesday in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
According to him, allowing power to shift to Anambra South Senatorial zone will ensure equity, fair play, justice and peace, as well as socio-economic and political growth of the state.
“I want to appeal to political parties and aspirants from Anambra Central and North senatorial zones to allow only those from Anambra south to contest in the November 2021 governorship poll in the state.
“In the 2017 governorship election in the state, almost all political parties zoned their governorship position to the North senatorial district, as the zone had never produced a governor for the state.
“Anambra Central senatorial district did three years and 10 months under Dr Chris Ngige, and eight years under Mr Peter Obi. So, the zone held the governorship for almost 12 years.
“Therefore, for equity, all political parties must now consider the Southern zone in the 2021 poll. Equity demands that the South should have it.
“We also believe that adherence to the zoning agreement will reduce the cost of politicking and problems that comes with do or die politics,” he said.
Ezeh said the group would continue to propagate the rotation of office of the governor among the three senatorial zones of Anambra North, South and Central.
Also speaking, an elder statesman and First Republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, lamented the high number of aspirants from the Anambra South senatorial zone.
Amechi urged the aspirants to coordinate behind a single candidate from the zone, who had credibility, proven integrity, sound education, competence and would prioritise the welfare of the people.
In his views, Sen. Nnamdi Eriobuna, who represented Anambra South in the Senate from 1999 to 2003, said that Anambra South was due to produce the next governor.
Eriobuna urged aspirants from the zone to coordinate themselves and work towards winning at their various party primary elections.
“After the primaries, we can now scale the number of candidates from the South zone and endorse a candidate that would contest in the election,” he said.
Some aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra South senatorial zone, who attended the forum were Mr Valentine Ozigbo, the former Managing Director of Transcorp.
Dr Ifedi Okwenna who served as Special Assistant (Political) to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was also in attendance.
Another aspirants on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), Group Capt. Nnamdi Nnoruka, and some traditional rulers also graced the occasion.
