2027: No amount of solo effort will make someone from Southeast become president – Anyim

Former Nigerian Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim has stated that it is impossible for a Southeastern candidate to become the President of Nigeria without forming alliances with other regions. This conviction led to his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his subsequent joining of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

As the 2027 general elections approach, Anyim is among the Southeastern politicians who have endorsed President Bola Tinubu's bid for a second term. Meanwhile, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) from the Southeast, is one of the most prominent figures in the upcoming election. Anyim, however, insists that the region should wait for another twelve years until the zoning arrangement returns to the South.

Addressing Arise News, Anyim remarked, "The President is entitled to a second term; after his term, the rotation goes to the North, and then it will come to the Southeast. You need to support others so they will support you." He went on to explain that his decision to join APC was influenced by the realization that when aspirants collaborated, their primary concern was their respective zones.

Consequently, when selecting a political party, Anyim carefully weighed which party would best serve the interests of the Southeast. Anyim concluded that no individual from the Southeast could achieve the presidency without the backing of other regions. He affirmed that the same principle applies to all regions, and therefore, everyone should seek alliances with other regions to enhance their chances of winning the presidency.