The quest for Anambra South Senatorial District to produce a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party ahead of the November 6 governorship election dominated discussion at a stakeholders’ meeting.

The meeting held on Sunday in Amichi in Nnewi South local government area.

Valentine Ozigbo, an aspirant, said the Anambra South agenda was about the survival of the state and the chances of PDP in the coming election, adding that PDP needs to produce a candidate that was 100 per cent Anambra South.

Mr Ozigbo explained that while Anambra South needed to produce a PDP candidate that represented the zone, there was a need to ensure that the flagbearer also had competence and acceptability across the state to win the poll.

“Today was a huge success in spite of the few challenges; we are in the process of ensuring that the next governor comes from the South,” he said.

Ifenna Okwenna, another aspirant, said the Anambra was waiting for the district to lead the campaign as the state had conceded the next governorship to it.

Mr Okwenna added that it would be unacceptable that Anambra South, shortchanged in the administration of Anambra since 1999, should be in needless squabbles over who should be the right person.

On her part, Uche Ekwunife representing Anambra Central said what was important for the PDP in Anambra was to have a candidate that would fit the zoning sentiment and win the election.

Ms Ekwunife, an aspirant, was a maiden of Anambra South but married to Anambra Central, said she grew up in Onitsha, North senatorial zone and was therefore qualified to contest from every zone.

She added that she could win the election for the PDP, having done so in the past, adding that women had dual citizenship in politics and should be allowed to enjoy the privilege.

“As we are clamouring for zoning, we should also clamour for winning, and winning is the word in this game.

“I am not running this election because I am from the South or Central or North. I am running because I want to win,” said Ms Ekwunife.

But addressing journalists after the meeting, Okoli Akirika, Secretary of the PDP in Anambra, noted that the party had set up a 15-man committee to champion the emergence of a candidate from the South Senatorial District.

Mr Akirika said the committee would consult and engage major stakeholders of the party to ensure that the South zone produced an electable and widely acceptable candidate for the PDP.

He added that said zoning, though a thorny issue, was a matter of party policy as contained in Chapter 1(7) of the PDP Constitution, which provided for rotation of political offices in line with the general feeling Anambra South should produce the next governor.

“What happened was true to the PDP’s slogan that ‘power belongs to the people.’ We threw the floor open so that everyone could have their say because we do not want imposition or usurpation of opinions.

“The PDP will not shy away from the political reality on the ground in Anambra where all other political parties have zoned their tickets to the South,” he said.

Other aspirants who spoke in support of the Anambra South zone agenda were Godwin Ezeemo and Emeka Etiaba (SAN).

(NAN)