The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo has criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for giving its 2023 presidential ticket to a northerner.
Soludo was quoted to have said it is not the right time for the PDP ticket to go to a northerner as it was the turn of the southeast.
Thus, the Governor queried the decision of the party leaders to give the ticket to Atiku Abubakar, stating that the Igbo people will not accept such injustice and would rather support one of their own who is contesting the same position.
The Anambra State Governor was quoted to have made his stand known in a recent statement through his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr Alex Obiogbolu.
He argued that in 2019, the Igbos supported Atiku but now that it is the turn of the southeast to get the ticket for the 2023 presidency, the PDP decided to jettison zoning so as to favour some other people.
Soludo described the action of the PDP as a great injustice, adding that the Igbos would therefore support the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and use it to send a message that the region can’t be taken for granted.
He said as quoted by Legit: “PDP was founded in zoning, fairness and national patriotism. That was the reason why in 2019, the PDP ticket went to a northener, Atiku Abubakar, and Igbo people supported him; because they see PDP as a party that will protect their interest at the national level. Now that it is the turn of the Southeast to be rewarded, PDP threw the slot back to the north. That is a big injustice.
“Therefore, as a people, we are saying that 2023 is the time for us to recalibrate, and use APGA as a platform to fight for the emancipation of our people; because, we are not oblivious of the fact that since 1999, Igbo people have been taken for granted. And there is no better way to address the injustice than to rally round APGA.
“In 2023, we need to use APGA to send a message by ensuring that all the people that are going to represent us at the national assembly, both in Anambra and other parts of Southeast, are from the platform of APGA. Anything short of this does not represent the interest and aspiration of our people.”
