The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the commitment and courage of the people of Oyo State for their support for its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and all other candidates of the party in the 2023 general elections. 

The national leadership of the party said the demonstration of support for Atiku during the G-5 governors’ rally in Ibadan despite attempts to coerce them against Atiku is show of rare courage.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Friday said, “Our party commends the tenacity of our members and supporters in Oyo State for expressing their support for Atiku at the flag-off of the PDP Governorship Campaign in Oyo State on Thursday, in defiance of attempts to dictate their electoral preference.

According to the PDP, the overwhelming chanting of ‘Atiku’ by the resilient crowd in rejection of a request that they follow the dictate of some individuals in the presidential election summarily conveyed, in one voice, their unnegotiable resolve to vote Atiku as the next President of our country.

The PDP noted that the people of Oyo State as independent-minded and political savvy have again demonstrated their sobriquet as pace-setters in the politics of Nigeria by establishing that power lies in the ‘Will’ of the people and not the endorsement or dictate of any person or group of persons. 

He said, “Unambiguously, the expression of the people of Oyo at the flag-off event firmly signposts and reaffirms the support of the South West Geo-Political Zone for Atiku and all our candidates in the South West and across the country.”

The PDP advised those it observed are seeking to dictate to Nigerians on their electoral preferences to retrace their steps especially now that it is clear that the people are not ready to be swayed by personal, group or sectional consideration in their support for Atiku and the PDP.

“Nigerians across board have found in Atiku the desired integrity, cognate experience, capacity, ability, mental alertness, presence of mind, Pan-Nigeria deportment and required will power to unify and lead our nation at this critical time,” the party stated.

Meanwhile, PDP Presidential Campaign spokesman, Mr. Charles Aniagwu said the Atiku has competitive edge to win the 2023 polls despite the several endorsements of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

Aniagwu, who doubles as the Delta State Commissioner of Information who stated this yesterday while addressing journalists in Asaba noted that the party does not begrudge former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and Edwin Clark for endorsing Mr. Peter Obi.

He said, “We do not begrudge Obasanjo or E.K Clark for their position with Peter Obi. We are aware that we are going into a contest and such endorsements are normal. We have the competitive edge to win because the Atiku/ Okowa ticket ticks all the boxes. We are in the A grade while Peter Obi in credit grade.”

He stressed that the party has received the best endorsement from Nigerians who have the power to elect, commending PDP party faithful in Oyo for demonstrating that Atiku is their choice in the 2023 elections when the G5 campaigned in the state.

“We did not mobilise them to do so, hence it speaks volume that the Oyo people picked their choice despite attempts to downplay their voices. The endorsement we received, states clearly where Nigerians are at for the upcoming elections.”

He mentioned that the attacks by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on the PDP Presidential Candidate has further boosted the chances of the candidate to win, saying that we have more support in the North that has 58 per cent of the votes because of the continuous attacks from Wike.