A former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Senator Chris Ekpeyong has said he may join the 2023 presidential race if the People’s Democratic Party, PDP throw the presidential ticket open to all aspirants from every part of the country.
He has also urged the South- South geo-political zone to seek the position of a president in 2023 as the clamour and debate on the region to produce the next president in 2023 rages on.
Ekpeyong who represents Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District at the National Assembly in an interaction with newsmen in Uyo also revealed that he would not recontest for the Senate seat in the forthcoming election.
“If my party the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), finally decides to throw it open, I declare my intention. I will not recontest for the Senate in 2023, but I may be seeking for the highest office. We (South-South) have always been cheated in the past.
“I am fully in support of South- South presidency in 2023. I want to urge the geo-political zone must come out to contest for the highest position in 2023. We must be ready to present a candidate. I maybe one of those that will seek for the position.
” You can remember when Goodluck Jonathan was to return to office in 2015, but the north said no. There was a serious gang up against the South-South. This time things will be different, we must present a candidate, but that will depend on whether the party will zone the ticket or leave it open.” He said.
He however expressed the hope that the presidential ticket of the PDP would be zoned to the Southern Nigeria in 2023, going by its rotational agreement enshrined in the party constitution.
Ekpeyong decried the trend in the country where outgoing governors impose their successors on the people and advised incumbent governors to make a difference by allowing the citizens to choose their governors in 2023 .
“This is democracy and the citizens must be allowed to choose their Leaders by themselves. I want this incumbent governors to correct the mistakes of the past by not imposing their successors on the people”, Ekpenyong advised.
