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Politics of Tuesday, 20 December 2022

Source: www.mynigeria.com

2023: Gov Makinde stunned as Oyo PDP declares for Atiku

A collage of Seyi Makinde and Atiku Abubakar A collage of Seyi Makinde and Atiku Abubakar

Despite the spat between Governor Seyi Makinde and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Oyo State chapter of the party has affirmed its support for Atiku Abubakar.

This was confirmed by the party’s state spokesperson, Akeem Olatunji on Monday, December 19.

Olatunji’s submissions now mean there is a serious disparity in candidate choice between the state chapter of the party and the number one citizen of the state, Governor Seyi Makinde.

Governor Makinde is a member of the self-styled G-5 governors or integrity governors led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, with other members like Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state.

All five PDP governors have been at loggerheads with the party chieftains to execute the removal of the national party chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

Ayu, who hails from Benue state, a region tagged under the northern part same as the presidential candidate who hails from Adamawa state, has been the major bone of contention with the G-5 governors who insisted that the chairman and flagbearer of the party cannot come from the same region.

Olatunji, on the other hand, said: “Our party in Oyo State is not alien to the PDP at the national level. PDP is still our party and is doing well, and we have a candidate, which is Atiku Abubakar. Atiku is still the candidate for the PDP in the state.

“Even the four other governors, have they ever told you that they have other candidates?”

Olatunji, however, stated that despite their conclusion to support Atiku as the presidential candidate of the PDP, Governor Seyi Makinde also remains their only choice as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Oyo state.

He said: “Governor Seyi Makinde is the biggest brand to market any candidate in the state, so as far as we are concerned, we are marketing all our candidates in the state under the PDP with the GSM brand, and as far as we are concerned, Atiku Abubakar is one of the candidates. So when it comes to party matters, we don’t have any other candidate than Atiku Abubakar.”