Anambra 2021: Okonkwo Says Competence Not Zoning Should Not Be Considered
Chief Obiora Okonkwo, a gubernatorial aspirant in the Nov. 6 election in Anambra says the Central Senatorial District has not had enough opportunity to fly the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) in the state since 1999.
Okonkwo who formally declared his intention to contest the election on the platform of PDP recently told journalists that equity and fairness demanded that aspirants from Anambra Central be given equal chance to represent party in the election.
The aspirant said he was making himself available to serve Anambra because he had all it took to transform the state and the belief that God would give him victory.
Okonkwo said the issue of who became the flag bearer of PDP was an internal affair of the party adding that it was wrong for members of other parties to try and influence how PDP manage their affairs.
“Primaries is PDP’s internal affair and not that of Anambra state, and since it is about who get the ticket of the PDP, it will be unnecessary for leaders of other political party to tell us where the candidate should come from.
“What is important for PDP in Anambra is victory, and winning the primary is not all, it has to be a God chosen candidate who will be able to win the main election and deliver good governance to the people.
“On zoning, Anambra Central has only had one opportunity to fly the flag of PDP and that was in 2003, Anambra North had flown it twice, in 2013 and 2017 while South has flown it three times in 1999, 2007 and 2010.
“Iit is no going to be easy because we going to run against a party that has been in power for 16 years,” he said.
Okonkwo said PDP was on the right track to victory with the quality and focus of its leadership in Anambra adding that this was the right time for the party to reclaim power in the state.
He said some aspirants from Anambra Central had met and dropped their ambitions in order to support his candidacy.
“For the records, it is a misconception to think that I am the only one that came out from Anambra central, initially there were a lot of aspirant that indicated interest to run.
“But they were wise enough for us to reason together and weigh our chances and they all agreed that among them, I am the person with greater chance to win, l was not the only candidate from Anambra Central but I am now.
“PDP is on the right track: first we have a stable and dynamic state executive down to the local government and ward level under the able leadership of chief Ndubuisi Nwobu next is to ensure a credible and fair primary to chose the right candidate for the election,” he said.
