Former Senate President, Pius Anyim, has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should not be held responsible for the South-East region's inability to produce Nigeria's president since the country's return to democracy in 1999. According to Anyim, it was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that missed an opportunity to zone its presidential ticket to the South-East during previous election cycles. This assertion was made during an interview on Arise TV's Prime Time on Monday.
Anyim emphasized that the South-East region could only achieve its presidential ambition through forming political alliances with other regions, rather than relying solely on internal support. He expressed his opinion that if the PDP had zoned its presidential ticket to the South-East, it would have generated the necessary sentiments to help the region's candidate defeat others. Anyim's comments come as the South-East region continues to pursue its quest for the presidency.
The former Senate President highlighted the importance of building partnerships with other parts of the country to achieve the South-East's presidential goal. He shared his personal experience, stating that no individual from the South-East could succeed in isolation and that an alliance with other regions was necessary. Anyim, who spent decades in the PDP before joining the APC, explained that his decision to move to the ruling party was made after careful consideration of the long-term interests of the South-East region.
Anyim's decision to join the APC followed a year-long consideration of the party's potential to serve the region's interests. He revealed that his primary interest was the well-being of his zone and that he weighed the fact that working together with aspirants from the region was crucial. Anyim's move to the APC was seen as a significant development, particularly in Ebonyi state, where he led a mass defection of PDP and other opposition parties to the APC.
On the current political arrangement, Anyim expressed his support for President Bola Tinubu's bid for a second term, citing the rotational arrangement among Nigeria's regions. He argued that the presidency should continue to follow a rotational pattern, with the South-West region having taken its turn. Anyim emphasized that after the South-West's turn, political actors from the South-East would need to continue building alliances with other regions to strengthen their chances.
Anyim's comments on the rotational presidency were seen as significant, particularly given the ongoing discussions about the 2027 elections. He stressed the importance of supporting other regions to gain their support in return. This approach, according to Anyim, would help the South-East region to build a stronger foundation for its presidential ambition.
The debate about the South-East region's presidential ambition is expected to continue in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. Anyim's statements have added to the discussion, highlighting the need for the region to build alliances and for political parties to consider zoning their presidential tickets to the region. The issue remains a contentious one, with different opinions on the best approach for the South-East region to achieve its goal.
Key points
- Former Senate President Pius Anyim blames PDP for South-East's failure to produce Nigeria's president
- Anyim emphasizes the need for South-East to build alliances with other regions to achieve presidential ambition
- Anyim supports President Bola Tinubu's bid for a second term, citing rotational arrangement among Nigeria's regions
