APC Governorship Hopeful Rejects APGA’s Zoning Plan, Calls It a Political Manipulation

A governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Chinedu Klinsmann, has strongly criticized the zoning arrangement being promoted by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), dismissing it as a calculated strategy to prolong Governor Charles Soludo’s influence in the state.

In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, Klinsmann argued that no single political party has the authority to dictate how Anambra’s leadership should be determined.

Describing the zoning plan as a “political gimmick” tailored to serve APGA’s interests, he insisted that it was merely an internal arrangement of the ruling party, lacking broad endorsement from the people of Anambra or other political groups.

"Zoning is Not an Anambra Agenda"

“The future of our state should be shaped by competence, vision, and strong leadership, not by artificial power rotation among senatorial districts,” Klinsmann stated.

He further claimed that APC, alongside other major parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), had rejected the zoning formula, asserting that the next governor should be chosen based on merit rather than regional considerations.

According to him, APGA’s fixation on zoning was not driven by fairness but by a desire to maintain its stronghold on Anambra politics.

“They know that in a truly open and competitive election, the people of Anambra would reject them due to their poor governance record. That’s why they are pushing zoning—to limit the field and exclude strong candidates from other parties,” Klinsmann alleged.

Zoning Hasn't Improved Governance, Says Klinsmann

Criticizing APGA’s long-standing zoning policy, he argued that nearly two decades of the party’s rule had not translated into significant development for Anambra.

“If zoning were truly the key to good governance, Anambra would be a model state by now. But despite APGA’s zoning-based system, we still grapple with insecurity, unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure, and economic stagnation. Clearly, the issue is not where a governor comes from but their ability to lead effectively,” he said.

Klinsmann also dismissed the idea that zoning had promoted fairness within the state, citing disparities even within Anambra South, where certain local governments had been repeatedly favored while others were sidelined.

“Aguata Local Government has produced three governors—Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Andy Uba, and Charles Soludo—not to mention multiple senators. Meanwhile, areas like Orumba North, Orumba South, Nnewi North, and Nnewi South have been largely excluded. If APGA is truly committed to fairness, why haven’t these imbalances been addressed?” he questioned.

With political tensions rising ahead of the next governorship election, the zoning debate remains a contentious issue that could shape Anambra’s political landscape in the months to come.