The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has declared it would take over the political setting of the South East come 2019.
According to the party, it would kick-start the takeover campaign with the Anambra State governorship elections scheduled to hold later this year.
The party said this following the South East Zonal Executive Committee meeting held in Enugu at the weekend, pointing out that the coming of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Chief Ken Nnamani and a host of others into the party as well as its ongoing registration of members have put it in a very strong position to sweep the polls in the region.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, South East, Hon. Emma Eneukwu, and released by the South East Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Hycienth Ngwu, the party advised sitting governors in the region, who had earlier indicated interest to join its fold but are still indecisive to make hay while the sun shines.
The statement said, “On the recent comments of some governors of South East states on the issue of defection to the party, the Zonal Executive Committee maintained that though the doors of APC are open to all genuine intending members, including the governors, the party would not tolerate any attempt by any governor to keep it in suspense.
“The party is battle ready to win all the forth-coming elections in the zone. Our electoral successes are guaranteed by the people, irrespective of whether any sitting governor joins APC or not,” the party said.
“There is no gain-saying the fact that the political tide is in APC’s favour in South East. We are sure to win the zone with the new entrants joining forces with the old members like Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and others. Election is about people and we now have quality members in good number,” it said.
It also welcomed “all the prominent Igbo politicians who had recently joined the party with their over 600,000 supporters in the zone, particularly Senator Ken Nnamani [former Senate President], His Excellency Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Andy Uba, Chief Ifeanyi Uba, Hon. Eugene Odo [former Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly], Chief Sam Onyeishi [former PDP governorship aspirant, Enugu State], amongst others.”
The APC also called on other prominent politicians from the zone who are still on the edge of joining the party to do so immediately, saying that the Igbos are naturally progressives.
