2023: Former Senate President Joins Presidential Race

A former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim has declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Anyim made his intentions known on Saturday while speaking with newsmen, adding that he will be seeking the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, zoning will not affect his resolve to seek the PDP presidential ticket.

He argued that the zoning the PDP did only has to do with the elective offices at the party’s national convention and not for the 2023 general polls.

On why he waited till now to declare his intention, Anyim submitted that he didn’t want to distract the current administration but with about 18 months to the expiration of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, he believes the time is very right for him to declare his intention.

“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 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,” Mr Anyim said.

He added that “Zoning of such positions was deferred but nothing stops anyone from South-East Zone from contesting the presidency even if it is not zoned to it.”

The former Senate President in his view about the PDP national convention said the party members have recovered from a setback and are excited about what lies ahead.

“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,” he said.

On the fate of the suspended PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, Anyim said the party members do not have any personal problem with him despite the fact that he dragged the party to the court and almost prevented the 2021 convention from holding.

“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 wilderness,” Anyim said.