Senator Rochas Okorocha (APC, Imo West) has formally declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election, saying his political party should jettison the idea of zoning.
The former Imo State governor said at a world press conference on Monday in Abuja that the APC should give interested candidates the opportunity to fight for the position of their choice without restriction to region.
“I hear people talking about zoning, I’m not a candidate of zoning, I am a candidate of justice. Maybe the south-east has not been able to present their matter very well before the rest of Nigerians,” he said.
“I appeal to my party – APC, to allow a level-playing ground. And the south-east must know that power is not given, it is taken. You must reach out to people who you want to vote for you. But let justice reign.”
Okorocha had last week informed Senate President Ahmad Lawan of his presidential bid.
He promised free access to education, from basic to secondary school level.
Okorocha, who is in a long-running battle with his successor in Imo, Governor Hope Uzodimma, also promised to reunite the country if elected.
