The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southeast says it will only support a candidate of northern extraction for the presidency in the 2019 general elections.
The Zonal Chairman of the party, Mr Austin Umahi disclosed this while reading a communiqué at the end of the zonal meeting of the PDP on Sunday in Enugu.
Umahi also said that the zone favoured the emergence of the party national chairman from the south of Nigeria.
He said that the zone also reaffirmed earlier zoning agreement on positions allotted to the Southeast to reflect states that made up the area.
“We are committed to the PDP zoning arrangement of president to the North and national party chairman to the South of Nigeria.
“We mandate our governors, zonal chairman and national assembly leaders to liaise with other zones to reach an understanding in respect of the next national chairman of our party,” he said.
Umahi said that they were fully in support of the party’s candidate in the Nov. 18 Anambra governorship election to ensure the success of the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by a former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, the governors of Abia and Enugu states while Ebonyi governor was represented by his deputy.
Also in attendance were Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd.), Chief Emeka Ihedioha and the Legal Adviser of the party in Abia, Chief Ukpai Ukairo.