2023 Election: Action Alliance not interested in zoning of Presidency
Olubunmi Osoteku, Ibadan
The Action Alliance (AA) has declared that the party would not zone the presidency to any part of the country ahead of the 2023 general election.
The National Chairman of the party, Adekunle Omoaje, disclosed this on Thursday while addressing delegates at the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, saying the party’s presidential candidate could come from any part of the country.
Omoaje noted that the party believed in integrity, excellence and capacity to lead, saying any individual with those attributes could contest for the presidential position on the party’s platform.
He stated: “We believe in the best, and we will present the best person as our candidate in the presidential election. It doesn’t matter where the candidate comes from; as long as he is qualified and possesses the attributes of a good leader, our party will present him.
“I want to assure Nigerians that our party will present a formidable candidate come 2023. We are ready to bring about positive change and solutions to the problems confronting Nigerians,” Omoaje added.
The party Chairman, whose position was reaffirmed by delegates at the convention, assured that the party would win not less than ten states in the 2023 general elections. He also expressed optimism that President Muhammadu Buhari would sign the Electoral Reforms Act into law in the interest of democracy.
He revealed that the national convention was an annual event where critical decisions were taken in the party’s interest, adding that they drew delegates from all the 36 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.
Omoaje also cleared the air on the alleged crisis in the party, declaring that there was relative peace in the party.
He recounted: “This convention was scheduled to hold as it did today with a notification sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the 29th of November, 2021, to ensure compliance with the 21 days required by law.
“INEC later requested for the convention’s agenda, which baffled us because it was attached to the notification sent to them. However, the agenda was taken to INEC as requested; It agreed with the alleged plan by Mr Uche Nwosu to hijack the party for reasons best known to him.”
The Chairman, Board of Trustee, Dr Samuel Adeyemi, also explained that the Emergency National Convention was part of moves to prepare ahead of the 2023 general elections, assuring that the party would win at least two states across the federation.
Suzan O.