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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The governors of Benue, Oyo, Rivers, Enugu and Abia States; Samuel Ortom, Seyi Makinde, Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu respectively, on Wednesday, boycotted the inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council and book launch in honour of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Also absent from the event was the National Chairman of the PDP, Sen Iyorchia Ayu, who according to the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, was not available as a result of ill-health.
All PDP governors are members of the presidential campaign council.
The event commenced at the International Conference Center, Abuja,with the launching of three books on the presidential candidate of the party, Abubakar.
The books are ‘Restructuring as a Pathway to Unity and Development’, ‘The Story of Atiku Abubakar’, and ‘Landmark Constitutional Law Cases in Nigeria (2004-2007): The Atiku Abubakar Cases’.
Speaking, Sokoto State Governor and Director General of the campaign council, Aminu Tambuwal, urged members to be united in working for the victory of the party.
“The campaign council will serve as the vehicle to deliver the PDP and its presidential flagbearer to the villa on the 29th May, 2023, by the special grace of God.
“All of us are going to hit the ground running and we shall work collectively as a family to ensure the victory of our party.
“The PDP, and indeed its candidate, is the party to beat in this election. It’s only for us to work and, God on our side, we shall deliver this victory to our party and to Nigerians.
“We believe INEC shall conduct free and fair elections. By so doing, victory by the grace of God is guaranteed for the PDP,” he said.
In his remarks, presidential candidate, Abubakar, congratulated members of the campaign council.
“I wish to congratulate all the men and women nominated to serve in the presidential campaign council.
“You have been selected from among the millions of our party members to join this esteemed council because of your past contributions to the party.
“Not all members of our party can be in the presidential campaign council, but every single member of the PDP is an important member and each one of you is still entrusted with the responsibility of leading our party to victory in next year’s elections.
“I wish you all the very best in your endeavours and I welcome you all as you join me to lead the efforts to win next year’s general election and help rebuild our country.
“Together, as one, we can get this job done. May God guide and bless us all and may God guide and bless our dear country Nigeria,”Abubakar said.