…Dismisses possible threats from Okonkwo, Ozigbo, other APC aspirants
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Former acting National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a frontline aspirant for the Anambra State governorship election, Paul Chukwuma, has accused agents of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) of propagating zoning in the APC.
Chukwuma spoke when he returned his already completed expression of interest and nomination forms to contest in the APC primary scheduled for April 5 in the State, emphasising that there is no zoning in Anambra State.
Fielding questions from newsmen after submission of his nomination forms, he also said that he is not nursing any iota of fear over the calibre of aspirants, like Valentine Ozigbo, Obiora Okonkwo among others, jostling for the ticket to become the candidate of the party.
While dismissing zoning ahead of the primacy, he said: “It is important to announce that there is no zoning in Anambra State. Let me be very categorical, anybody telling you about zoning is an agent of APGA. This is because APGA has devised a means of sticking to power in Anambra.”
“I am from the Northern senatorial district and the incumbent governor is from the Southern senatorial district and every senatorial zone has seven local governments. They make mouth about zoning more than ever because I am on the ticket. And why are they doing that? If you go by premodial sentiments which zoning is all about, then everybody goes to his zone. Then we will never have a contest, it is only when you take your candidate from different zones that you can have a proper contest.
“But if you take your aspirant from the zone of the governor, then it is done on arrival. And that is how they have perpetuated themselves in power, even when they have not done much and when they are done, they will leave the party.
“So, it is a tool they have designed to keep Anambrans under their hold. And that is why we must make it very clear that there is nothing like zoning in Anambra State.
In every election every party has fielded candidates and aspirants from the different zones. So, we don’t have zoning, it is peculiar to APGA and APC as a party.
“We have decided for this very moment not to allow that strategy because it will work against us. We want to take power and give it back to ndi Anambra because we currently don’t know what is happening in the State. Currently, you can’t go to Anambra without having a retinue of security men around you and it is a big shame.
“I want to make it very clear so that you don’t get confused. The issue of zoning is a decoy by APGA to sustain themselves and maintain power. We must resist it and we must make sure we have a free, fair and credible election,” Chukwuma emphasised.
On his fears about the political heavyweights joining the party and the race, the former national officer replied:
“Do I look like somebody who has any fear? On the contrary, when we started this journey, and I am happy that a number of people who started the journey are here with me.
“The plan was to have a new APC in Anambra State where people will find very attractive to express their desires to contest elections. I am very happy that one of the items on the checklist we have succeeded in ticking the box we envisaged while we were putting the plans in place three years ago.
“Remember Anambra is under opposition party, our plan was to rebrand APC, take APC closer to the grassroots, engage with the grassroots and explain what APC will do differently and that is why we are having different people because we have a new APC where others are jettisoning their former parties to join APC. Instead of being afraid or having concerns I am excited and happy.
“The fact remains that we are foundation members of the party, we built the party and we are excited to receive our brothers who are joining our party. After I have emerged as the candidate of the party, we will work together to win the election,” he quipped.
