From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been asked to expect a pay back from the South east, over their rejection of the zone in the choice of heir presidential and vice presidential candidates ahead of the 2023 general elections
The South East Coalition for Good Governance, SECG, which described the decision of the two political parties a rejection of the South east zone, said the zone will pay the political parties back with rejection at the 2023 polls, insisting that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will pay dearly in 2023 for failing to concede its presidential and vice presidential tickets to the zone.
Reacting to the development, President of SECG, Emmanuel Okwu, while addressing journalists in Owerri, said that the “South East was technically schemed out by the two major political parties in the race for the 2023 presidential race
“This is a deliberate policy, not a coincidence, but a carefully designed plot by the leadership of the APC and the PDP to deny the South East the presidency in 2023, despite overflowing cries of marginalization and injustice melted to the zone.
“It is strange that the two political parties, despite the enormous support they garnered from the people of the zone, particularly the PDP, could not choose among their numerous loyalists and political henchmen in the region, a running mate for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar” he lamented.
Okwu pointed out that PDP has continued to enjoy enormous political goodwill in the South East zone since 1999, insisting that it is therefore unacceptable how the party could succumb to anti-Igbo script to deny the region not only its presidential ticket, but also the vice presidential slot.
The group further took a swipe at the APC, saying since its formation in 2014, the party has continued to “exhibit disdain for the South East by relegating the region to the background in all its affairs”
According to the group “no one from the South East has been Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives or held a key portfolio in the security, political and economic apparatus of the country since APC came to power in 2015.
“The denial of Ndigbo, the presidential and vice presidential tickets of the parties, despite the sacrifices made by the South East for the South West to produce a President in 1999, is an elongation of the plot to keep the South East out of the power equation of the country for a long time.
“The PDP and APC will therefore suffer electoral consequences for their actions in the South East in the 2023 general elections, they must be disgraced and rejected in entire Igbo land.”
