GOING by what is happening at the national level of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), their Presidential candidate in 2023, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar seemed to be in dilemma with the choice of dropping his running mate, Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa for the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.
At this stage, whichever side Atiku stands the center can no longer hold which is why the Ohaneze Youths Council are sending their warning signal that should Atiku drop Okowa for Wike he should not expect a single vote from the Southeast.
Wike’s loyalists are also threatening fire if Atiku did not correct the imbalance in the choice of his running mate.
In a statement made available to reporters on Tuesday by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC), Atiku was warned not to drop Okowa.
The statement signed by the National President of OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, and the Secretary, Obinna Achionye, indicated that any attempt to replace Okowa would backfire.
The apex Igbo organisation said the South East would not accept losing out completely in the scheme of things, having lost the opportunity to produce the presidential candidate of either the PDP or the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“There is no need to repeat that we expected both the PDP and the APC to zone their presidential tickets to the South East, but that did not happen.
“Though this has been overtaken by events, the only consolation we have is the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, considering that Okowa is a true Igbo son.
“Having said this, how could anyone wake up and think of replacing Okowa with Wike? As much as we know that Atiku reserves the right to choose whoever he wills as his running mate, we also have the right to vote according to our desire.
“And that desire is clear- that the PDP would not get one vote from Igbo land should they field Wike because this is a man who disowned Ndigbo. He said he is not one of us and this is payback time, we also do not know him. Should the PDP make the mistake of pairing him with Atiku, the PDP will be roundly rejected during the presidential election,” the Ohanaeze youths warned.
The OYC added that “with the new Electoral Act, those who constituted themselves into emperors are going to be disgraced during the polls. The time for bogus fake results is over, so nobody should be deceived.”
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