•As APC, PDP not likely to zone Presidency to the region

•PDP to throw it open, considers Southwest for chairmanship

•Intrigues surface as both parties seek to outfox each other

By Emmanuel Aziken

A game of intrigues between the two major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC is shaping up over the zoning of their 2023 presidential tickets.

The two parties, sources revealed, are looking across at one another with the intention of not being outfoxed in the zoning puzzle.

The opposition PDP which yesterday inaugurated a zoning committee according to Saturday Vanguard sources is gravitating towards zoning the office of national chairman to the Southwest.

And in a move which is bound to likely upset the APC, the principalities in the PDP are also planning to leave the zoning of the 2023 presidential ticket open to all regions of the country.

The move is against the expectation of the APC which had been planning to square up to the PDP by leaving its own ticket open until after the PDP would have zoned its presidential ticket.

The moves in the PDP and APC, it was learnt, are bound to upset those canvassing for the zoning of the presidency to the Southeast.

The decision to zone to the chairmanship to the Southwest, a party insider told Saturday Vanguard, was upon the general agreement of restituting for the sin of 2017 when the party offended the zone by giving the office to Prince Uche Secondus from the South-South.

“You know what happened in 2017 and what it caused at that time and how people like Professor Tunde Adeniran left,” the source said as he referenced the defection to the Social Democratic Party, SDP of the former education minister and a one time top operator of the opposition party.

Senator Rasheed Ladoja was also another disappointed party chieftain who also left the party at that time.

Besides the restitution, a party source also said that zoning the office to the Southwest would also help to mobilise the region for the coming governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti States.

“They need it to drive the party towards winning the election in the two states and you can hear what happened yesterday now,” the party source from the Northcentral said in reference to the reported defection of a high profile loyalist of Rauf Aregbesola to the PDP.

With the APC in Osun now thrown asunder between Governor Gboyega Oyetola and Aregbesola, the source said that the PDP stood the opportunity to gain by mobilizing well with the help of a national chairman from the zone.

However, despite the seeming decision to zone the office to the Southwest, the party, Saturday Vanguard gathered would leave the presidency open to all sections of the country.

Against the convention that the presidential flagbearer would come from the opposite section of the country, it was gathered that PDP insiders would prefer to leave it open for the sake of party unity and also for the purpose of fending off the APC which is waiting for a slip from the opposition party.

The PDP’s stance, it was gathered, is helped by the fact that nearly all the serious presidential contenders are from the North.

“It doesn’t really change anything for now,” it was claimed yesterday.

The main presidential contenders include Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Governor Bala Mohammed and Aminu Tambuwal.

There are, however, insinuations that Governor Tambuwal may be putting his eyes in the top spot in the National Assembly following suggestions that the country may not be ready for another Northwest president following President Umaru Yar‘Adua and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Despite the Thursday communique of the Southern governors it was also gathered that no one in the PDP from the zone is really putting forward his feet towards the presidency except the party specifically zones the office to the South.

“There are two PDP governors who will come forward if the office is zoned to the South, but without it I don’t see them coming out,” one party official said on the condition of anonymity.

Saturday Vanguard reports that the House of Representatives Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu had few days ago seemingly thrust forward Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for the presidency. It is, however, not certain if the assertion by Elumelu had the approval of Okowa who has held political office at all levels of government from local government to the federal level.

The signs are, however, more ominous for the Southeast in the two parties.

Recent moves by President Buhari to rally APC troops in the Southeast was at the weekend yet to gain traction. The recent presidential visit to Imo State and the president’s commitment to the emergence of Senator Andy Uba as governor of Anambra State on the platform of the APC had been canvassed as a way of pushing forward the zone’s capacity to argue for the ticket to be zoned to region.

READ ALSO: 2023: Igbo businessmen clamour for president of Igbo extraction

“With President Buhari’s endorsement of Senator Andy Uba, it is now left to Anambra voters to endorse Uba, so as to facilitate Ndigbo’s quest to produce Nigeria’s President of Igbo extraction in 2023,” Mr. Osita Okechukwu, director-general of the Voice of Nigeria, VON said in a statement made available to Saturday Vanguard.

Arguing further, he said:

“Senator Andy Uba’s victory in the November 6, 2021 gubernatorial election will strengthen our collective bargain for Nigeria’s president   of Igbo extraction in 2023.”

However, internal divisions within the Anambra State chapter of the APC and related factors were upsetting that aspiration.

“It is not possible for us to win the election. Our party rating in Anambra is poor, our candidate’s rating is also poor,” a top APC shot told Saturday Vanguard.

Hope for a Southeast president emerging on the platform of the PDP is also not forthcoming given the thinning of the party in the region.

The party which few years ago had a 100% hold on all the governorship and state legislative houses has now been reduced to a minority.

“They are not serious,” a party operative said as he recalled frustrations that attended moves championed by Senator Ike Ekweremadu to bring Southeast leaders together on the issue at a parley in Senator Uzor Orji Kalu’s country home earlier this year.

“You don’t get the Presidency through agitation. For now, Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the front-runner from the south,” Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, member of House of Reps from Sokoto said yesterday on Arise Television.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/2023-hope-for-president-from-s-east-dims/

From my deep analysis of the present political climate in Nigeria, I think the Ibos are not interested about 2023 presidential ticket. I see a lot of talks in the south east region that isn't backed with the necessary movement that is expected to lead one to the promise land.

Come 2023, I see the presidential ticket zoned to the South West due to the strong motions taking place in that region.

divinehand2003:
From my deep analysis of the present political climate in Nigeria, I think the Ibos are not interested about 2023 presidential ticket. I see a lot of talks in the south east region that isn't backed with the necessary movements that is expected to lead one to the promise land.

Come 2023, I see the presidential ticket zoned to the South West due to the strong motions taking place in that region.

The Igbos really want to go their way. If an Igbo man loses interest in anything, nothing changes his conviction. That is what is happening.

No region wins presidential elections on a platter of gold without serious campaigns and canvassing for support from two or more regions in Nigeria. At present, the political forces in Igbo land are not doing this, rather they sit and wait for the ticket to be zoned to them without hustling for it.

This aligns with the present expression, " THE PATIENT DOG IN NIGERIA GETS NO BONE AT ALL".

Bluntguy:

The Igbos really want to go their way. If an Igbo man loses interest in anything, nothing changes his conviction. That is what is happening.

The Ohaneze and other political leaders from Ibo land have repeatedly denounced this idea of succession in the public space because they know it might not be profitable to the region if they go in that direction. I believe strengthening your political idea in unity and with one voice is the way to success in Nigeria.

Nigeria is scam

Zoning never worked

They wont form coalitions or be strategic lmao

Dims to where? If the South can’t come to an agreement it will definitely go back to the North since they can agree better.

It’s simple mathematics.


It’s turn for the SE and there are only 2 main challenges

1. SE can’t even get a formidable and national candidate.

2. SW won’t support Igbos for president. They have become saboteurs and opportunist of Igbo marginalization over the years even more than the North.

Note I am not trying 2 create a division btwn Yoruba and Igbos i am asking them to think and harmonize.

BluForce:
How pitiable? The North still wants to hold on to power

I believe the northern elites are aware that in today's Nigeria, no one region can continue to be president. They are very much aware that times have changed. If you look carefully, they are not aggressively opposing the idea of a southern presidency in 2023. The unity of the country is far better than the greed of any region.

North must produce a President for our interest to be fully protected, in a worst scenario Jonathan can take over

Wonders will happen

ok

They are NOT serious for that side of the country

Just rally support for Tinubu or His candidate

In all fairness if the presidency should be zoned to the south, then the south east should get it... I will gladly vote for umahi, rotimi ameachi or any other reliable easterner.

,

divinehand2003:


The Ohaneze and other political leaders from Ibo land have repeatedly denounced this idea of succession in the public space because they know it might not be profitable to the region if they go in that direction. I believe strengthening your political idea in unity and with one voice is the way to success in Nigeria.

Yes.

As much as Nigeria is a contraption, breaking it up would only make a bad situation worse.

All the new countries won't become industrial powerhouses. They will become net importers, and get into debt doing so. Knowing Nigerians....

Bluntguy:

The Igbos really want to go their way. If an Igbo man loses interest in anything, nothing changes his conviction. That is what is happening.

Your politicians have a different opinion from you. They have interest in politics and presidency

PDP: Corruption and Thieves
APC: Corruption, Hardship, Lawlessness, Above the Law, Terrorism, Total disaster.

We're in problem in this country. Funny thing is Buhari is talking about unity yet his actions are totally opposite; just imagine all the positions held by Fulani. Funniest thing is it's obvious that they're so incompetent.

Las Las we know who go collet ahm

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divinehand2003:
•As APC, PDP not likely to zone Presidency to the region

•PDP to throw it open, considers Southwest for chairmanship

•Intrigues surface as both parties seek to outfox each other

By Emmanuel Aziken


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/2023-hope-for-president-from-s-east-dims/

I just wish the people can be Wise and bury these two stupid parties once and for all mke we send them to their graves and retirement house mke we shock them vote another party entirely

Good

I feel for the fool that has to:

• Deal with ASUU mess
• Beg for unity
• Pay back loans
• Fix the economy
• Talk with doctors
• Deal withFulani Herdsmen Terrorists.

Irrespective of the pay or privilege involved, I wouldn't want to be that fool.

But, why don't we just slash Senator's pay by, say, 20% and use that to settle doctors and ASUU?

marvels will come

Come to think of it there is no serious Igbo man out there

Umuahi was better staying on his own in pdp than boot licking fulani which just made him a clown

Peter obi that one isn't cerebral enough as a politician he may have hype of governance

I don't care where the president comes from. The important thing is that he should not be a bigot, a failure, a nepotistic, a terrorist like what we have now

PDP want to use Atiku again.

That is why people are abandoning PDP early enough !

Bluntguy:

The Igbos really want to go their way. If an Igbo man loses interest in anything, nothing changes his conviction. That is what is happening.

Secession may look attractive(and it is a sign of a mature democracy to have active secession movements)...but even then

1.The South South is refusing to join the Ibos this time

2.Even if Biafra gets the Delta...oil is not the money earner it used to be. Oil prices are dropping, and the clean energy revolution is here, plus the US is becoming energy sufficient (something that democrats and republicans agree on at least)

3.A large proportion of foodstuff consumed in the SE comes from...the same North. Once there is a border....the prices of foodstuff go up due to...tarrifs.

4.The main business in the SE is....importing and selling imported stuff. I doubt that would change with Biafra...meaning more pressure on any forex reserves, and more debt.

We know this.

For APC, for the region that gave all their support through political membership and mobilisation of voters to coast the party to victory, in all fairness, the presidency should go to SW. APC lost in SW since inauguration has been voters protest vote against the candidate and not against the party. So SW deserves the 2023 President slot.

For PDP, SE has given their all, even go to extend of killing their brothers for supporting APC and not PDP. They sacrifice their blood, money, energy, I mean, everything both the electorate and the political members including non-electorates. If there is any region that should get presidential slot in PDP for 2023, it should be SE uncontested. But we knew since early 2020 that PDP presidential ticket is going to the North come 2023.

Unfortunately for APC political gladiator in SE, they discovered very late, except for Amaechi, that their only bargain for 2023 presidential slot is in their political strength that will show they have capacity to win and lobby political gamers across the nation and their people will support and show love to the party. Unfortunately, SE as at today, is the arrowhead for separationist and fight against the North, specifically fighting the Fulanis that has greater influence in the north.

Umahi and other lawmakers in SE realising that SE have been Used and dump by PDP are now moving to APC to brighten SE chances to clinch APC presidential slot for 2023. But their moves were very late, the deserving region has fought for the post.

We will surely be going to 2023 elections with SW as national Chairman for leading opposition (PDP) and Presidential candidate for the ruling party (APC). SW are not slaves as they referred to them by their southerners counterpart, they are wise enough to understand the direction of things and play the game well to win the future. SE should, considering the current political disposition, be lobbying for Senate President in PDP and House Speaker or Senate Majority Leader in APC.

In all, before you act in life, think about tomorrow, you will discover a natural holding back force anytime you are about to take some actions. When the past is controlling the present of a man, the future is always jeopardise; such is the case of South Easterners, their past is controlling their present such that their future prospects is now highly jeopardised, politically and economically. It is not being a coward or fool but being wise enough to win and enjoy tomorrow. In igbó land, it is only a coward that will live to tell the story of once upon a time brave man.