The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday formally flagged off its presidential campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital with the party’s presidential candidate and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar dedicating the campaign to the party’s achievements in the state.
He said he dedicated the launch of official flag-off ceremony of the party’s presidential campaign to achievements of Akwa Ibom PDP in good governance.
Atiku stated this while while addressing troops of PDP supporters at the official flag-off ceremony of the party’s presidential campaign flag-off, which took place at the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state.
He said, “We dedicate the launching of this campaign to the achievements of the Akwa Ibom PDP in good governance.
“Having said that, when PDP came into power in 1999, we met Nigeria in a state of insecurity, hunger, lack of education. We lifted Nigeria from the bottom to the top,” he added.
The PDP’s campaign flag-off comes barely four months before the February 25 presidential election.
The PDP shared a video showing Atiku, Okowa Udom and other PDP being ushered to the stage amid crowd of PDP supporters gathered at the campaign venue in Uyo, via his verified Twittle handle, on Monday.
The PDP presidential candidate was accompanied by his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel among other party chieftains as they cheered up their mammoth of supporters.
Atiku had earlier shared a video showing crowd of PDP supporters gathered at the campaign venue in Uyo via his verified Twitter handle on Monday.
The PDP governors, who attended the campaign flag-off ceremony included the Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa state, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state.
Others included the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former lawmaker representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye among other top party officials.
It is taking place at the Nest of Champions Stadium, barely four months before the February 25 presidential election.
In attendance are the party’s presidential candidate and former Vice President, Akitu Abubakar, his running mate and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.
There were also Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed and his Adamawa counterpart, Ahmadu Fintiri, former lawmaker representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye among other top party officials.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Atiku shared some images indicating that he arrived in Uyo last night. Expressing his joy being in Akwa Ibom State, the ex-vice president was accompanied by Okowa, Emmanuel and Mohammed.
However, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his allies including Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde were absent.
The crisis rocking the PDP took a different dimension after Wike lost to Atiku in the PDP presidential primary.
Several talks to pacify the Wike camp appear to have hit the wall as the aggrieved governor has shunned the party’s activities, indicating that he won’t support Atiku’s presidential ambition.
Campaigns for the 2023 general election officially commenced on 28 September in line with the timetable and schedule of activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Wike’s supposed allies, including Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, also boycotted the event.
Their absence may not be unconnected to the Wike camp’s insistence on the resignation of PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The Wike camp have argued that it is unjust and imbalanced for the PDP to have a northern PDP presidential candidate and National Chairman, noting that it does not reflect the national character of the party.
They have also alleged that Ayu promised to resign after the PDP presidential primaries if a northerner emerged as candidate.
Ayu however has vowed to stay on as National Chairman and Atiku’s spokespersons have hinted that the presidential candidate has no intention – or power- to force Ayu’s removal.
In September, the Wike camp announced its withdrawal from the Atiku presidential campaign.
Despite the Wike camp’s absence, the PDP campaign flag-off went on at the Nest of Champions Stadium in Uyo.
The PDP campaign is coming barely four months to the presidential election in 2023.
Both Atiku, Okowa, Ayu, and Emmanuel took turns to address the crowd in Uyo, pledging to rescue the country should the PDP be elected into office next year.
Atiku addressing supporters at the PDP presidential campaign flag-off in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
