*South East Governors Were Consumed By Power Play In PDP, APC Before Presidential Primaries
A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo State, Hon Williams Ekennia, has said PDP’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar would defeat the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, if he (Atiku) chooses a running mate from the South East.
Ekennia said a christian running mate from the South East with Atiku, a muslim, would also sway considerable votes from the South East for the PDP presidential flag-bearer.
Speaking to newsmen in Owerri, Ekennia said despite the rise of the Labour party in the South East as a result of the presidential candidacy of Peter Obi, the PDP would record impressive votes from the region.
He said “The rise of the Labour party in the South East, as a result of Peter Obi’s candidacy, is as a result of the failure of the APC and the PDP to concede its presidential tickets to the South East.
“If Atiku chooses a running mate from the South East, a popular politician for that matter and a Christian, it would re assure our people in the South East that we have a stake in the Nigerian project.
“The PDP is the most acceptable party in the South East. The PDP is already formidable in the South- South.
“Votes from the South East and South- South would give Atiku the edge over Tinubu in the South, who would rely only on the South West for bulk votes. Atiku would get good chunk of the votes in the core North. The North would always vote for their own.
Ekennia said votes from the South East alone cannot make Peter Obi of the Labour Party, President of Nigeria.
“Votes for Labour party from the South East alone cannot make an Igbo, President of Nigeria.
“As unfortunate as the situation is presently, Igbo presidency still remains realizable in the PDP, if Atiku chooses a running mate from the South East.
“No Igbo man can be President of Nigeria in the next 16 years. Tinubu is from the South West, he is foreclosed from choosing a running mate from the South East.
“After 8 years, Atiku and the PDP would certainly favour the South East for President.
“Between Tinubu and Atiku, the latter is more acceptable in the South East. Tinubu never visited the South East for consultations when he was seeking for the presidential ticket of the APC. Atiku visited all the States in the region before the Presidential primary of the PDP.
Ekennia also blamed South East Governors for bungling the realization of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, saying both APC and PDP Governors in the South East, were consumed by power play and political intrigues that led to the emergence of Tinubu and Atiku, as Presidential candidates of the APC and the PDP.
“Our South East Governors, those in the PDP and APC were consumed by the power play in the two parties before the presidential primaries of the two major political parties” he stated.
