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Peter Obi My Second Best Candidate – Umahi

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has ranked the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, as his second preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 election.

Umahi however, reiterated his support for Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Peter Obi

Recall that Umahi lost in his bid to clinch the APC presidential ticket. He stated that he was a loyal party man who roots for his party.

The Ebonyi State governor spoke during an interaction with State House Correspondents after he paid a private visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

Speaking on the reason for his visit, Umahi said he came to invite the President to inaugurate the newly constructed N1.2bn Governor’s Lodge in Abuja in October.

He lauded the Obi movement, describing it as an eye opener that the South-East will remain relevant in the Nigerian politics. He said that although the Labour Party may clinch the most votes in the South-East, he is optimistic the APC would win the presidential election.

He said, “It’s going to be a different ball game altogether because when the campaign starts, yes, the interest of our people in terms of presidency is there, you can’t wish it away but everyone in the South-East holding the ticket of their party is going to be struggling.

“You will not tell the guy that has the ticket of the House of Assembly to look at the bigger picture of Igbo presidency. He may not see it but that is not to say that Peter Obi is not going to get substantial votes in the South-East.

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“But the structure and the spread of the APC is such that victory is assured. I can assure you that some of the disagreements in some states are going to be resolved. Mechanism has been put in place by Mr President, the candidate of the party, his running mate and the national chairman and leadership of the party to sort out our differences. I think we are well prepared for victory in 2023.”

Commenting on why the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, did not produce a South-Easterner as a presidential candidate, he blamed it on miscalculation by the region.

He added, “But to say whether they are ready for the presidency of the country anytime, I think the movement of Peter Obi is an eye-opener.

“That’s why I said, I love what he’s doing. I’m encouraged by what he’s doing because if he’s not doing what he’s doing, it means the South-East would have been forgotten. So, while my party takes the victory, he would have prepared a very good ground for the South-East presidency, so nobody is going to write us off.

“You can see the level of his acceptability, which does not translate to victory over the APC. I’m sure of that, but it’s a good movement. It reassures the South-East people and the entire country that we are accepted and that we will one day become the president of this country. It is very important.”

Source: Punch

Obiajulu Joel Nwolu

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