Former President of the Senate and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anyim Pius Anyim, says he will run for president in 2023. The former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) made this known after the Convention of his party saying he is interested in contesting as president in the 2023 general election.
Anyim while disclosing this to media said there is no rule stopping an aspirant from the south-east from contesting for the seat of the president, whether the party zones the slot to the region or not.
He said, “Posters of my presidential bid and agitations by groups for me to contest flooded the social media in 2020 and I disassociated myself from such calls. I felt that it was too early for such a declaration, to enable the present administration to concentrate on governance.
“Such calls resurfaced in the early part of 2021 and I chose to be quiet over the issue.
“We currently have less than 18 months to the next elections, and I feel the time is ripe to indicate my interest.
“Zoning of such positions was deferred but nothing stops anyone from the south-east zone from contesting the presidency even if it is not zoned to it.
“The most important thing is that the party’s national convention is a sort of rebirth for a group of people who have recovered from a setback.
“The party members are focused and determined.”
Anyim while commenting on the PDP crisis involving the suspended chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, said he (Secondus) is still a friend to many members of the party.
The former lawmaker said, “He is particularly my friend and we do not have any problem with him.
“The issue is that the party needed to move but be assured that he is not going into the wilderness.”