BY ADANNA ONWUKWE, ENUGU
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has no reason to deny the South East geo political zone its presidential ticket in 2023.
The South East Coalition For Good Governance, SECG, a socio political group, in a statement in Enugu, signed by its coordinator, Emmanuel Okwu, said the PDP should concede its presidential ticket to the zone “to reward the zone for its loyalty and unwavering support to the party for several years”
SECG noted that the PDP has remained the choice party for Ndi Igbo since its formation in 1998 after it was orchestrated by late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
“Since 1999 till date, Igbo have always embraced the PDP. They have voted and aligned with the party strongly.The South East is one of the pillars of the party in Nigeria. Records show that the South East is the party’s major catchment area” the group stated.
The SECG said the party having been embraced by majority of Igbos should be considered for the party’s presidential ticket in 2023 ahead of other zones in Southern Nigeria.
“The PDP is the only route for Igbo nation in 2023 to get to the Presidency.
“Despite the presence of the All Progressive Congress, APC in two states in the South East, Imo and Ebonyi, the PDP remains firmly rooted in the South East region. Our survey shows there are more members and followers of the PDP in the region more than any other political party. The PDP cannot afford to gamble with the expectations of over 40 million Igbo who believe a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction is overdue” the statement noted
The group added that in the South, the South- West and South South zones- had produced the nation’s President on the PDP platform namely Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, stating that the South East, considering its undiluted support and loyalty to the PDP should effortlessly earn without hesitation its presidential ticket
“The PDP has remained stable and enjoys voter acceptability in the region, thus it is imperative for the party to consider an Igbo as its presidential flagbearer ahead of the 2023 presidential elections” the statement noted
The PDP has been enmeshed in crisis as the race for the 2023 presidential election hots up. The party’s Zoning committee led by Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had zoned the party’ s national chairmanship position to the North, fueling speculations that the party may zone its presidential ticket to the South.
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