Agency Reporter

A chieftain of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Joe Igbokwe has said zoning of the 2023 presidency to the South will promote the unity of the country.

He added that the understanding to keep the country as an indivisible entity must be embraced by all.

Igbokwe, who spoke during an award ceremony to honour him by the Ndigbo Youth in Lagos APC, noted the importance of zoning and rotational presidency.

He said though rotational presidency was not entrenched in the constitution, the norm had become the barometer to forge ahead even when it is “unwritten constitution”.

The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services explained that the APC would emerge victorious in the coming elections in the state which emanate due to vacuum created by the demise of its members.

The governor’s aide said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had nothing to offer, stressing that people who matter in the party had decamped to the APC.

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The bye-elections are those of Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe II State Constituency as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Igbkowe, who spoke after being given “Excellence in Leadership Award” by Ndigbo in Lagos APC, a socio-political group, noted that he did not see any competition from any political party in the election, saying the APC was the only party trusted by Lagosians.

“APC will win the two bye-elections; the party will emerge victoriously. I don’t see any competition from any party. As far as I am concerned, whoever emerges as our candidates, will win. APC is the party for Lagosians,’’ he said.

He said the party would go into the elections with all seriousness to make the victory overwhelming.

The APC chieftain said it was imperative to rotate the presidency between the North and South to strengthen the fabric of unity.

He said those who posited that zoning could be jettisoned, because it was not provided for in the constitution, should understand the peculiarity of the country’s democratic experience.

“There is an understanding in Nigeria that power should rotate between North and the South. That is normal to further strengthen unity and build the nation. It is in the unwritten constitution; it is the way to go.’’

He said the argument to put merit ahead of zoning in determining the country’s president does not hold water as “there are champions in all regions’’.

Igbokwe thanked Ndigbo in Lagos APC for the award, saying it reflected the confidence reposed in him as the apex leader of the group.

He said he would continue to work tirelessly to make the group a formidable force in the party.

He called for unity in Ndigbo in Lagos APC, adding it was the only way to achieve the objectives of the group.