The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said that the ruling party is determined to win the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State.

Chief Oyegun said this yesterday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, when he received the APC South East Zonal Committee for the Anambra 2017 governorship election.

He said the Anambra State governorship election was a test case for the APC-led federal government to bring the South East into the mainstream politics again to achieve power equation.

According to him, “It is clear that the quality of the committee underscores the importance in which the party holds the Anambra governorship election and the importance in which we hold return of the South East to the mainstream of Nigerian politics.

“At national level, it is a matter of prime concern. We are very keen to return the nation to the balance it used to have, a balanced federation. And it is most important for that purpose that the South South and South East must participate.

“We must try to achieve a semblance of equality and full participation by all geopolitical groups in the power equation of this country. We are joining you in making Anambra a test case. 

“Fortunately, we have had quite a number of good opinion leaders joining the movement and we now have the critical mass with which to project this great effort. We are fully with you in this effort. Certainly, by next month, the party leadership will set up a national campaign committee for Anambra State. 

“We are determined to work, not to manipulate to win the forthcoming Anambra governorship election,” he stated.

The chairman of the committee, Dr Jim Nwobodo, while speaking earlier, said the Anambra governorship election was important for APC as a national party. 

Nwobodo said, “Anambra is an important state in the South East, economically and politically. It is a state where very prominent and wealthy Igbos come from; some of whom are aspiring to contest for the forthcoming governorship election. There may be attempts to influence the primaries with money and buy nomination.

“But this committee has resolved that the most popular choice of the people of Anambra State will emerge, irrespective of how deep his pocket may be, through a transparent primary.” 

POSTED BY:OPUOMONI PRIYE

DATE:04/28/2017