Anambra Must Abide By Zoning in Electing Next Gov, Group Insists

A political group in Anambra State, Great Anambra Forum (GAFORUM), has insisted that the state must adhere strictly to its zoning formula in electing the next governor of the state as it begins preparation to hold next governorship election in November 2021.

The group, which consists of technocrats, politicians, professionals from all fields, town unions, religious bodies and leaders of various associations said the first criterion is that whoever must emerge as governor must come from Anambra South senatorial zone.

It said there was a need to begin early to canvass for it to ensure that all groups and parties in the state begin early to choose who would be their candidate.

At a press briefing held in Awka, the state capital, the Coordinator of the forum, Mr. Fabian Ozoigbo, said the group has agreed that the next governor of the state should shift to the southern senatorial zone of the state, after Governor Willie Obiano, who hails from the northern zone, completes his two-year term.

Ozoigbo said: “As we approach 2021 gubernatorial election in Anambra State, politicians across the state have started jostling for political relevance, but of paramount interest is the issue of where the next governor would come from after the incumbent has exhausted his tenure.

“The forum recognises the fact that each of the 21 local government areas can produce a sound individual who is qualified to contest and become the next governor, no matter the criteria, but that is unhealthy and can be counterproductive.”

The group insisted that the Anambra State unwritten pact spells out its zoning formula, and that it has also undertaken a survey in which over 70 per cent of respondents favoured the southern senatorial zone for the position of the next governor.

It said out of the 1,630 questionnaires distributed, 71 percent of respondents preferred Anambra South to produce the next governor because of the existence of the zoning formula.

The group, therefore, urged stakeholders in the state politics to respect the zoning pact, while also calling on the southern senatorial zone to begin early to shop for a credible candidate who would succeed the incumbent governor.

“Based on this, GAFORUM strongly urges the people of Anambra South to search for credible candidates with character, proven integrity, performance, competence, and education for the job.

“We don’t need a Diaspora governor this time; anyone who will be the next governor must have lived among us for at least 10 years and also known the people of the state very well. We don’t want people who will return from abroad to take over governance, that is part of the criteria,” Ozoigbo said.