*Say former Anambra governor only popular on social media

Chieftains of the Peoples’ Democratic Party from Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, hails from, are confident that the residents of the towns that make up the local council will reject the former governor and his party in the 2023 elections.

They described Obi as a social media candidate, adding that the area has always been a PDP stronghold.

The council coordinators from the 21 local governments that make up the southeast Nigerian state made this known on Saturday when they met at the PDP’s presidential management committee office in Awka, the Anambra State capital, to deliberate on the way forward for the party’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Ifeanyi Okowa.

The coordinator from Obi’s local government, Adilieje Ugochukwu, said that Anaocha had always been a PDP haven, regardless of whether Obi was running, assuring that the council area would still be delivered to the PDP during the February 2023 election.

“We were in the party before Peter Obi joined us when he left APGA. And PDP was already formidable and winning elections,” he said. “His decision to leave after many years of benefiting from the PDP and to pursue his personal ambitions cannot impact the party negatively. Peter Obi never consulted his political family before his decision to leave; for him, it was his personal ambition, and such cannot be binding on us all as we have our own personal ambition, which is for PDP to win in next year’s election and in other elections.

“Do not be scared of anyone; we are in this to win. Our mandate is Atiku, and we’ll crush anyone standing in our way. We cannot allow our people to continue to be victims of emotions and sentiments. We are members of the PDP and must own up to our party and her presidential candidate and ensure that he wins in our local government and state.

“Peter Obi is only popular on social media and not in Anaocha. Anyone can organize a rally that every Tom, Dickinson and Harry Potter (sic) will attend, but on the day of the election, the real voters will cast their votes accordingly. Peter Obi’s personal decision cannot be binding on us,” he added.

Chuma Ezeafurukwe, from Aguata local government area, along with others, said the appointment of Prof Obiora Okonkwo as the PDP campaign coordinator in Anambra had rejuvenated the party in the state, saying they were confident of delivering results.

The 21 local government coordinators also reiterated their desire to ensure that Anambra State is delivered to Atiku and Okowa in the 2023 general elections.
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