The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the commitment and courage of the people of Oyo State for their support for the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and all other candidates of the party in the 2023 general election.
The party said this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Friday.
Some PDP members marched in support of Atiku in Ibadan, the state capital on Wednesday.
However, the next day, the state governor, Seyi Makinde, a PDP member, started his re-election campaign in Ibadan, with party leaders, including Atiku and National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu absent.
Mr. Makinde is a member of the group of five governors who requested the resignation of Mr. Ayu as a condition to support Atiku.
The others are Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
Some members of the party were heard shouting in support of Atiku at the G-5 governors’ rally.
In his statement, Mr. Ologunagba said the party commended the steadfastness of PDP members and supporters in Oyo State for declaring their support for Atiku at the flag-off of the PDP Governorship Campaign in Oyo State on Thursday, rejecting attempts to dictate the electoral choice. .
“That’s a lot of “My heart! My heart!” by the people who are resistant to rejecting the request that they follow the dictates of some individuals in the presidential election, in short they declared with an incomparable vote to elect Atiku as the next President of our country.
“The people of Oyo State as independent and politically astute people have once again demonstrated their title as Pace-setters in Nigerian politics, by establishing that power rests in the will of the people and not the consent or dictate of a person or group of people.
“Unambiguously, the expression of the people of Oyo State at the flag event emphatically signaled and affirmed the support of the South-West Geo-Political Zone for Atiku Abubakar and all our candidates in the South-West and across the country.”
The PDP spokesperson advised those who want to dictate to Nigerians on their electoral choices to retrace their steps.
Mr. Ologunagba said this is important especially now that it is clear that people are not ready to be swayed by personal, group or sectional considerations in their support for Atiku and the PDP.
Also read: Ayu, Atiku absent as Wike, others attack Ibadan for Makinde’s re-election campaign
He said that Nigerians across the board have found the desired integrity, cognate experience, capacity, ability, mental alertness, mind, pan-Nigerian nature and what is needed will be able to unite and lead the nation at this critical time.
“Our party, therefore, charges the people of Oyo State, the South-west Zone and all Nigerians to remain steadfast in their decision by coming out en masse to vote as well as take all measures available in democracy to protect their votes.
“This is a common effort to save our nation and return to the path of national stability, peace, economic prosperity and happiness for all, which Abubakar embodied.”
(IN)
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