By Fred Ezeh Abuja
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) vice-presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has ruled out Labor Party candidate, Peter Obi, as one of the leading candidates for the presidency in the 2023 elections.
Okowa said Obi has no chance because his party has no structure and lacks adequate grassroots mobilization that could hold him to the recommendations of the electoral act to win the election. presidential election.
Okowa, who spoke at a meeting of young Christians from the north, in Abuja on Tuesday, asked Nigerians who rely on him to rethink, suggesting that they check previous election statistics and familiarize themselves with patterns of vote of the different geopolitical zones of Nigerians.
“It is important that we understand today’s politics. In 2015, Buhari won the elections thanks to the votes he received in the northeast, northwest, north-central and southwest. It lost heavily in the south-south and southeast, respectively. In 2019 it was the same pattern,” he said.
“It is evident that out of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, any party that is to win the elections must do well in four zones, or even better very well in three zones, and face strong competition in the fourth zone to be able to win. The election Victory is often determined by the number and distribution of votes.
“Obviously, the Church in Nigeria is so passionate about the upcoming elections, and for the unity and oneness of Nigeria, the same faith ticket adopted by APC was not the right move. Previously, APC was known to be strong in four geopolitical zones, but that has changed.
“The PDP is known to be strong in the northeast, north-central, southeast and south-south, but the party did not do well in previous elections in the northeast, even in center-north, but the party has regained its strength in the northwest, northeast and center-north while firmly maintaining its strength in the south-south.There is a way and a hope for the PDP in the next elections.
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“APC weakened in the northwest, northeast and north-central, but maintained strength in the southwest. Obviously, the APC vote is decreasing and the coverage map is decreasing while the PDP coverage map is expanding.
“Lately we are starting to see the rise of the Labor Party. The party may do well in the southeast, but outside the region it has neither the strength nor the structure that would allow it to claim victory in the polls. They might as well do well in the mid-north but not very strong. They have no structures in the southwest, south-south, northwest, or northeast. So there is no magic they can do to win the election.
“The danger is that the centre-north and the southeast from where the party hopes to obtain its votes are traditional strongholds of the PDP. So the more votes you remove from these regions, the lower the strength of the PDP. If that happens, then what the church is trying to avoid will happen to the church, which is APC will win an election again.
PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, who also spoke at the event, explained that Dr. Okowa’s unique traits, especially his humility and other undisclosed personal qualities, have earned him the selected as the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.
Ayu said such unique qualities are what is required of someone aspiring to serve as Vice President, especially at this time of enormous national challenges facing Nigeria.
Ayu challenged the youths to seize the opportunity and join the movement to lift Nigeria out of the dungeon of underdevelopment and backwardness that would have visited Nigeria through the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He asked them not to take into account the unrealistic messages defended by certain political parties which have neither the good intentions, nor the structures, nor the requirements to win the elections as prescribed by the electoral law.
He solicited the support of young Christians in the north and challenged them to engage in grassroots mobilization, advocacy and other measures that would disillusion the minds of some young people who believe there is no hope in sight for Nigeria.
Ayu said, “Okowa’s appointment is the result of extensive consultations with several party stakeholders. Okowa was nominated because of her unique personality. The selection committee considered several factors before arriving at Okowa’s decision.
“Okowa’s humility, education, governance experience, performance and other accomplishments were among the factors considered in the decision making. We are confident that the combination of Atiku and Okowa will go a long way in helping us not only save Nigeria but also restore it to the courtesy of a great nation.
Plateau State Assembly Speaker, Abok Nuhu Ayuba, who organized the event, explained that young Christians in the North are key players in the election, hence their support is needed.
Meanwhile, Christian youth leaders from different states and geopolitical areas in the north made presentations and suggestions on how to approach to ensure the success of the PDP in the upcoming general elections.
