Coast Clears For Ekweremadu As Ugwuanyi Dumps Zoning

The Executive Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Sunday declared that he would name the person who will succeed him in office through the inspiration of God. Ugwuanyi had been the controversial zoning policy that would not have favoured former Deputy President of the Senate and ex Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sen Ike Ekweremadu, who is also in contest to succeed Ugwuanyi.
Ekweremadu comes from Enugu West zone that has produced governor for the least number of times.
With this development, the political turf has become more conducive for Ekweremadu whom political watchers view as the most potent contestant to beat within and without the party which created the maxim; the fear of Ike is the beginning of political activism in the state.
Gov. Ugwuanyi made the declaration which is viewed as a major twist in the political puzzle, during a solidarity rally organized in his honor by the leadership and stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu North Senatorial District who used the occasion to pledge their total support for the Governor.

The Enugu North PDP leadership also used the avenue to urge the governor to emulate his predecessors, former Governors Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani and Barr. Sullivan Chime, by picking his successor in 2023.

The Governor thanked the party faithful for their support, assuring that he would not take their loyalty for granted. He appealed to the people of Enugu North District to use their superior voting strength to influence the results of elections in the state.

In his opening address at the occasion, the Zonal Chairman of PDP in the District, Mike Onyeze, described Governor Ugwuanyi as the “hero of democracy.” To the Governor, he said the following:

“You have continued to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Enugu State despite the harsh economic situation in the country. We are behind you in every decision you take for the interest of PDP in Enugu State. We are gathered here to reaffirm our support for you.

“As the party prepares for primary elections, we shall give you our total support as usual. We are also in support of the existing zoning arrangement in the state. The leadership of PDP in Enugu North Senatorial District and all the stakeholders condemn in totality members of our great party outside this District who are trying to scatter the existing zoning arrangement in the state. Those behind this anti-party movement are not only insulting the governor but the entire people of Enugu North Senatorial District.

“The governor’s predecessors picked their successors and his case won’t be different.”

Members of the Federal House of Representatives, State House of Assembly members, Local Government Chairmen, PDP leaders, and other major stakeholders from the district all attended and declared their unflinching support, individually and collectively, for Governor Ugwuanyi.