2023: Don’t Drop Okowa, Ohanaeze Issue Strong Warning to Atiku, PDP

• The emergence of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state as Atiku Abubakar's running mate has continued to generate a series of reactions in the polity
• It has even caused division among major stakeholders in the PDP, especially those in support of Governor Nyesom Wike's VP slot
• In a new development, the Igbo youths have threatened to deal with the presidential hopeful if he decides to drop Okowa as his running mate in the 2023 election and pick Wike

Igbo youths under the umbrella of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide(OYC) have cautioned the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Atiku Abubakar against any plan to drop Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

Ahead of the 2023 election, The Nation reports that there are speculations that Atiku is facing pressures from governors to drop Okowa and replace him with his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike.

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Pressure from Wike's camp

Wike’s loyalists are also said to be making the same demand as the only way to make room for peace in the party.

Igbo youths tackle Atiku, PDP

The youths in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 5, said Atiku should drop Okowa to his peril.

The statement signed by the national president of OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and the secretary, comrade Obinna Achionye noted that any attempt to replace Okowa would backfire.

Nnabuike said the Igbo would not accept losing out completely in the scheme of things, having lost the opportunity to produce the presidential candidate of either the PDP or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Ohanaeze youths warned that:

“Having said this, how could anyone wake up and think of replacing Okowa with Wike? As much as we know that Atiku reserves the right to choose whoever he wills as his running mate, we also have the right to vote according to our desire.

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“And that desire is clear- that the PDP would not get one vote from Igbo land should they field Wike, because this is a man who disowned Ndigbo. He said he is not one of us. Should the PDP make the mistake of pairing him with Atiku, the PDP will be roundly rejected during the presidential election.”

PDP addresses issue of 'placeholder' for Peter Obi, Tinubu ahead of 2023 presidential election

The PDP had alleged that the All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party have introduced an alien term into the political space.

The opposition stated that placeholders as running mates for presidential candidates are not known to any law.

Making the allegation, the national publicity secretary for PDP described such a move by the APC and LP as unserious.

2023 election: PDP level strong allegation against APC, tells Nigerians what to do

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The PDP had alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress has laid out its plan to ensure that voters are induced during the election.

A chieftain of the party said the APC has perfected every of its plan to buy votes with money and other incentives from voters.

Umar Damagun encouraged Nigerians, especially the youth to ensure that they register and secure their Permanent Voters' Cards.

Source: Legit.ng