The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC being the officiating referee of elections in Nigeria has blown the whistle for political conquest to begin ahead of the 2023 general elections and has set aside April for the conduct of political party primaries.
This development has since put those aspiring for political positions on their toes as the battle for who takes over the highest seat of government in Nigeria gets hotter. Political gladiators have been throwing their hats into the ring and seeking the buy-in of the electorates.
On Wednesday, it was a mass gathering and rallying of friends and supporters at the People’s Democratic Party, PDP National Secretariat Abuja as one of the presidential aspirants of the party, Pius Anyim pays a working visit to the National Working Committee to return his expression of interest and nomination form of the party and also to share with the committee the policy guideline of his government if given the opportunity to represent the party at the 2023 poll.
The supporters trooped out en masse bearing different placards with several endorsements and captivating inscriptions, dancing and jubilating as Anyim Pius makes his way into the party’s national secretariat.
Anyim Pius who have being a faithful member of the party joined the PDP in 1998, has served in different capacities in government at all levels; having pioneered the affairs of the senate in a turbulent time, served as the engine room of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as secretary to government and also a legal luminary.
The presidential aspirant while briefing the NWC stressed the need to allow the zoning arrangement which is a principle of the party.
He advised the committee to respect the spirit and letters of section 7 (2) (C) of PDP’s constitution
Different support groups like Anyim Pius for 2023, United Better Nigeria Initiative, and Lawyers for Anyim 2023 spoke on the exceptional qualities of Anyim and the need to allow him to pilot the affairs of the country.
In his response to the visit, the National Chairman of the Party, Iyorchia Ayu while congratulating Anyim for the bold step and showing interest to run for the presidency, advised all the aspirants to join hands and build a formidable family that will bring back the glory of the party.
He said, so far, 17 aspirants have declared an interest and out of them, one is a female and the rest are males.
Aside Anyim Pius, Abubakar Atiku is also a strong contender in the race. with several calls on zoning the presidential ticket of PDP to the south and further micro zoning it to the South East and the leadership of the party saying it will throw the ticket open for all, what will be the political climate in PDP during and after the party’s primaries?
