October 10, (THEWILL) – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, flagged off its presidential campaign for the 2023 elections.
The event, held at the Nest of Champions Stadium, Uyo, was attended by party leaders and members across all categories including the party’s presidential candidate, Akitu Abubakar, his running mate, Okowa and host governor, Udom Emmanuel.
Others included governors of Edo, Bayelsa, Taraba, Sokoto, Bauchi, and Adamawa, as well as former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, former Senate Presidents, Bukola Saraki, and Ayim Pius Ayim, former lawmaker representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye; former governors, members of the National Assembly, among other top party officials
However, governors Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde and Samuel Ortom of Rivers, Oyo and Benue states respectively, boycotted the campaign flag-off.
The three aggrieved governors had similarly boycotted the inauguration of the campaign council at the Conference Centre, Abuja, on September 28, along with their two colleagues, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Okezie Ikepeazu of Abia.
But Ikpeazu in a statement on Sunday, restated his support for Atiku, as the presidential candidate of the PDP, reiterating he had nothing against him.
Host governor, Udom Emmanuel, who was on hand to receive delegations at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, expressed delight over the hosting of the campaign flag-off and thanked the leadership of the party for entrusting him and other members of the campaign council with the task of driving the Atiku/Okowa rescue mission.
Giving assurances of the Campaign Council’s preparedness to secure victory in the 2023 polls, Udom said, “There is no battle between the presidential candidate and I. He is my presidential candidate. I don’t have any other candidate, but at times, when one gets to a certain point in life, and a vehicle is put down for a journey, even the destination of the vehicle. That is the question I am asking. I have been an apologist of the PDP since 1999 and needed to ask a question.
“The greatest need of Nigerians today is inclusiveness. Can we be sensitive to the feelings of other people? Can I be guaranteed a country where a criminal in Sokoto is a criminal in Abia and a criminal in Abia is a criminal in Zamfara?
“Can I be guaranteed a country where my son will not be brutalised because his name is Okolie? Can I be?”
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