Politics
Why Nigerians Must Vote For PDP In 2023 – Ifeanyi Okowa
Vice-Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Delta, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has urged Nigerians to vote Atiku Abubakar and all PDP candidates in the 2023 elections to ensure that prevailing hunger, poverty and insecurity in the country were over.
Okowa made the call on Thursday at the party’s campaign at Oshimili North and Oshimili South Local Government Areas of the state, and said that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government had taken Nigerians many years backwards with its inept administration.
He said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had destroyed the nation’s socio-economic system, including the educational sector where the government allowed university lecturers to be on strike for eight months.
According to him, because God sanctioned my nomination for Vice-Presidency and put me on the PDP presidential ticket, He has finished the work for us.
“Aside the fact that PDP gave us the Vice-Presidential ticket which we have not seen since the creation of Delta and even Bendel, we need to work hard to justify that confidence reposed in us.
“In 2019, Delta produced the highest votes for the PDP in South-South and this time that we have been given Vice Presidential ticket, it is our duty to double the votes because the APC has spoilt Nigeria with hunger, insecurity, disunity, ASUU strike and that’s not what we want as a country.
“The APC has no human face, they are angry that we are empowering our youths and women with skills to enable them own their businesses and become employers of labour.
“If God put you in position of authority you need to lead with a human face and that is why Atiku-Okowa ticket will bring Nigerians out of hunger and poverty,” he said.
On the governorship election, Okowa said that the party was supporting Sherrif Oborevwori and Monday Onyeme because they were politicians with worthy characters.
“We have been uniting Delta by working everywhere in unity and as I am leaving, an Urhobo man is coming and I know that he has common sense and he is very humble.
“I have known Sheriff Oborevwori for over 21 years and God has been very helpful to him to have become the longest serving Speaker in the history of our state.
“We will pepper APC with our votes and we will elect all candidates of the PDP to continue our youth empowerment programmes.
“I thought that as we are empowering the people, the APC will appreciate us but they are complaining, and no wonder they are using hunger to kill our people,” he added.
He accused the Deputy President of the Senate and APC Governorship Candidate in the state for lying to Deltans that his administration didn’t do anything in Asaba.
“Sometime ago, the APC governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, came to Asaba and tried to deceive our people that we didn’t do anything in Asaba.
“When I heard his lies I began to wonder whether he was referring to the same Asaba that we built roads, a modern State Secretariat , Dennis Osadebay University, Leisure Park, Film Village and Zoo.
“Need we talk about the Flyover and Interchange at Koka Junction? But I am particularly happy about the storm drainage project which has deflooded Asaba and environs.
“As we have done in Asaba so we are replicating it in Warri, Effurun and environs and so we have decided as a party to support a grassroots politician, an amiable and humble personality in Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to continue from where we will stop.”
The Governorship Candidate, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, on his part, said he had learnt a lot from Governor Okowa, and assured that he would deploy the experience garnered over the years to bear in the administration of the state.
“In politics there is time and seasons and the past seven and half years have been very awesome because I went through the Okowa political school.
“Those that knew me before 2015 and now know the difference, I have learnt to be more humble and I have also learnt how to listen more and that’s how I was able to lead the assembly successfully in the last 6 years.
“Many people have passed through this school and I have passed through it successfully and I have been given a certificate to take over the mantle of leadership of this state.
“I will consolidate on what Okowa has done with my MORE Agenda and I can assure you that I will not disappoint Deltans with the confidence reposed in me. I want to assure you that I will keep to my MORE Agenda because it is my covenant with Deltans,” Oborevwori stated.
He commended the Anioma nation for supporting Delta Central for the governorship ticket and assured that he would not disappoint Deltans.
State Chairman of the party, Chief Kingsley Esiso, said he was happy that the people of Oshimili North and Oshimili South were totally committed to the liberation of Nigerians from the shackles of poverty and insecurity created by the APC-led administration.
“I am happy and convinced because from the crowd here today there is no other political party in this local government.
“I am happy because the people of this local government have rejected the APC with their hunger, poverty and insecurity and this time around the PDP is on a mission to reset and rebuild Nigeria.
“APC came with their lies and propaganda and destroyed Nigeria and by the grace of God and by your support APC will never happen to Nigeria again.
“Nigerians have decided to join the rescue train of the PDP with Atiku Abubakar as the Chief Driver and Deltans are particularly happy with the ticket because since the creation of Nigeria nobody from the state has ever been selected to be Presidential running mate.
“But our own performing Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta will produce the next Vice-President.
“Having destroyed our economy, security and social life, the APC is bringing a sick man to come and cure a sick country, we will not allow them,” Esiso stated.
Director-General of the State Campaign Council, Chief Funkekeme Solomon urged Nigerians to reject the APC at all levels adding that the APC had so deceived our people and rubbished the work done by the PDP over time.
At Akwukwu-Igbo, a former chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Mr John Azike, and no fewer than 100 members of the party, defected to the PDP.
Azike, who addressed the mammoth crowd, said he was joining the PDP alongside his supporters to support Governor Okowa who “is a Vice-President in waiting.
“We are also supporting the PDP because of the incoming Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, who has presided over the state Assembly for years without any crisis,” he stated.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced its decision to back Northern candidates in the 2027 general elections, citing the urgent need to address the worsening socio-economic and security challenges facing the region.
In a communique issued after its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the forum expressed deep concern over the economic state of Northern Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, attributing the region’s struggles to flawed governance and poor policy decisions.
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The ACF criticized the Federal Government’s economic policies, describing them as detrimental to the livelihoods of Northern citizens.
According to the communique, signed by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the policies have compounded the already dire economic conditions in the region.
The statement reads, “Arewa people remain at a great disadvantage, being already worse off economically compared to other parts of Nigeria. While economic reforms are indeed desirable, they should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve. Policies must have a human face.”
The forum noted that the North faces chronic food insecurity, limited educational and vocational opportunities for youth, and a heavy reliance on small-scale economic activities.
“Livelihoods are currently dependent on micro activities. The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity; its youths lack education and skills training. Daunting as these may be, they can be reversed. The time to think big is now,” the communique emphasized.
The ACF also addressed the pervasive insecurity in the North, warning that the situation has begun to erode public confidence in the government.
“Security is an irreducible minimum of human existence. In this regard, insecurity in its various manifestations remains the most worrisome challenge of Arewa people, that has even started to corrosively undermine the authority of government,” the forum stated.
It condemned the government’s response to the crisis, arguing that the Federal Government has failed to meet its primary duty of safeguarding lives and property.
“That those whose responsibility it is to provide security will be saying they are doing their best is unacceptable,” the communique said. “The minimum duty of government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure.”
The ACF faulted what it described as the “flawed leadership selection process” under the Tinubu administration, claiming it has elevated individuals without the requisite competence or experience to key positions.
It urged the Federal Government to “review, reassess, reevaluate, and re-order the direction of its economic policies with a view to giving it the needed human face.”
Looking ahead to the next general elections, the ACF pledged its support for Northern politicians who demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing the region’s challenges and fostering national development.
“Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring economic conditions, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse,” the communique stated.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has urged Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritize completing ongoing projects and avoid leaving any abandoned during his second term in office.
Ganduje made the call on Wednesday at the APC’s national secretariat in Abuja after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented Certificates of Return to Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Adelami Olaide.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s re-election was marked by a sweeping victory in all 18 local government areas of the state during last Saturday’s governorship election.
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Ganduje praised the outcome, describing it as a testament to the people’s confidence in the APC-led administration.
“I am happy about the landslide result. The election is not the effort of the elite and middle class alone; it is also through the effort of the grassroots,” Ganduje said. “Out of 203 wards, APC won 202, losing only one ward. This is a victory embraced by all.”
Ganduje highlighted the importance of continuity and urged the governor to leverage his experience from the previous administration led by the late Rotimi Akeredolu.
“As a deputy, you knew how projects were started by your late governor. You were part of it, also as a governor for 10 months, and now as a re-elected governor. For the next four years, you will continue,” he said.
“You know the terrains, geography, and physical landscape of all 18 local government areas. Use these insights to carve out projects that will improve the lives of the Ondo people.”
Meanwhile, Ondo APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, commended Ganduje’s leadership and strategic direction, which he credited for the party’s success in the election.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support for Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy, despite internal opposition from some party stakeholders.
“We have finally killed PDP in Ondo,” Adetimehin declared. “Most of the leaders of that party have defected to the APC. With the landslide victory in this election, it is clear to the whole world that there is no PDP in Ondo.”
He further described Ganduje as a mentor whose leadership had been instrumental in uniting the party and ensuring victory at the polls.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who succeeded Akeredolu and completed his tenure before securing re-election, has pledged to focus on delivering on his mandate and completing critical projects in his second term.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally issued certificates of return to Ondo State Governor-elect Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, following their victory in Saturday’s governorship election.
The presentation ceremony took place on Wednesday at INEC headquarters in Abuja, where the commission’s National Commissioner for Ondo State, Kunle Ajayi, handed over the certificates.
Biztellers reports that Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor, emerged victorious in the election, securing 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.
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The results were announced in Akure on Sunday by the Returning Officer, Professor Olayemi Akinyemi, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja.
Election observers described the polls as peaceful and credible, commending INEC for improved logistical arrangements.
The event was attended by top APC officials, including the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and other party members.
Ganduje hailed the outcome as a triumph for democracy in Nigeria.
“Since 1999, we have been enjoying democracy, and we always fine-tune it to ensure it is fair, free, and decent, so that it is the vote of the people that counts,” Ganduje said.
PDP Rejects Results
Despite widespread praise for the conduct of the election, the PDP has rejected the outcome, describing it as fraudulent. Its candidate, Ajayi, vowed to challenge the results in court.
Aiyedatiwa Pledges Better Leadership
Speaking after receiving his certificate of return, Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the people of Ondo State for renewing his mandate.
“The mandate you have just renewed via your huge votes across 18 LGAs where we won convincingly has placed a burden on me to serve you better than I did before now,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa initially assumed office in December 2023 following the death of his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
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