Ahead of the primary elections of all political parties for the 2023 general elections, reports from members of National Working Committee (NWC) of All Progressives Congress (APC) has revealed that the party is taking measures to counter the strategy of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
A member of the NWC told our correspondent that the APC is considering to alter it’s earlier expected zoning plan should the opposition party have its presidential candidate from the North
Speaking to our correspondent, the anonymous member said “ You know that aside the zoning of the positions in the six geopolitical zones , what matters most is winning the election. It is very true that the party had plans of zoning the presidency to the Southwest but it will no longer be possible. The pressure from both national and international community on the consideration of South East has grown deeper and stronger and we cannot overlook that concern . But we are careful on how we go about this so we achieve the premium which is winning the election. For instance we cannot insist on South East presidential candidate for the party if the opposition decides to go with a northern presidential candidate. If that happens the best we could do is to have a candidate from the North East .
Another NWC member who maintained anonymity disclosed that the zoning was carefully avoided during Wednesday’s NWC meeting , but was discreetly discussed by the cabal in the NWC after the general meeting.
According to the member who is a northerner , “ the clamor for power shift to the South is heavily considered . We are considering that South East should produce the next president and we have considered other zones in such a manner that everyone will be well represented “
Revealing to our correspondent the possible zoning arrangements , the member stated the party’s considerations as follows
President – South East
Vice President —North East
Senate President —North West
Speaker— South West
Deputy Senate President —South South
Deputy Speaker—- North Central
“However , in a situation whereby the PDP switches to a presidential candidate from the North , we shall also go North and North East specifically.
President – North East
Vice President -South West
Senate President—South East
Speaker —North West
Deputy Senate President —-North Central
Deputy Speaker —South South
“These permutations and considerations are in order and we believe that as the largest political party in Sub Saharan Africa , we have all it takes to win 2023 general elections “ the member revealed