As the 2025 governorship election in Anambra State approaches, the All Progressives Congress (APC) faces a delicate situation. Anambra has an unwritten zoning arrangement for the governorship position, which rotates among the three senatorial zones in the state.
The zoning arrangement gained prominence in 2012 during the administration of then-governor Mr. Peter Obi. Obi insisted that the ruling party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), should produce a candidate from Anambra North to maintain balance.
This followed Mbadinuju’s four-year term from the South and Obi’s eight-year term from the central senatorial zone. Ngige, who held office for three years, was also from the central zone.
Obi’s push for the North, considered a minority zone, solidified the zoning agreement. However, as Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s first tenure concludes, the demand for the governorship has intensified.
Contrary to claims of zoning, the APC appears to challenge the arrangement by advocating for an open contest. In June, the APC Elders Forum, led by Chief Innocent Obi, reinforced the Anambra zoning formula.
They emphasized that for the APC to outperform the ruling party in the 2025 election, it must field a southern candidate in line with the zoning agreement.
Chief Obi stated, “An agreement is an agreement, whether written or not. There’s already a system at work in Anambra State. Denying this truth is misleading. As elders, we must speak honestly.”
Various positions exist on this matter. Mr. Pope Amaefuna, an APC chieftain, stressed that failing to field a strong and popular candidate from Anambra South would jeopardize the party’s victory.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to the zoning principle, which has contributed to stability, equity, and fairness in Anambra politics.
In summary, the APC faces a critical decision: uphold the zoning agreement or risk undermining the delicate balance in Anambra State politics.
