The umbrella body of Igbo socio-political movement, the Ohaneze Ndigbo on Thursday declared that ”no Igbo political decisions have been made so far on the 2023 election”, a statement that indicates that the pan Igbo organization is yet to take a stand on the candidacy of the Labour Party flagbearer, Mr Peter Obi.
This declaration was made by the group in a statement, which was released by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, in response to the selection rejection of the South East zone by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP flagbearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Against the expectation of stakeholders from the zone, the PDP candidate selected the governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, who is from the South-South zone, as the running mate for Atiku. This did not go down well with the South East zone.
In a clearly, but strongly worded response the organization did not only reject the choice of Okowa, but also completed rejected the candidacy of Atiku and the People Democratic Party as an option for the zone in the February 2023 election.
The group therefore concluded that “for shunning the southeast, Atiku will face the consequences of his actions.”
In the same statement, the Ohanaeze also suggests that the zone may already have made a decision on whom to vote for in the presidential election, but chose to keep it under rap for now.
This contrary position by the group that “No Igbo political decisions have been made so far on the 2023 election” throws confusion into the permutations of some political watchers.
It also leaves doubt on whether Ohaneze Ndigbo supports the candidacy of its own, Peter Obi, the LP flagbearer.
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The statement issues by the Secretary General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro reads in part:
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has described the nomination of Delta State Governor as the PDP running mate to Atiku Abubakar as a chaotic selection for a party not ready to win the 2023 elections.
“The reward for a serial betrayal whose inescapable actions will never add national integrity and value to the progress of PDP in 2023, Ifeanyi Okowa is a minus for Atiku, as his choice will decline PDP’s fortunes in Delta and Southern Nigeria, a man who misled the Southern Governors’ agenda will never be trusted for the votes of Ndigbo, Igbos will never vote Atiku and Okowa.
”Southeast knows the political directions to go in 2023, but certainly not the PDP. Atiku is satisfied with a serial betrayal because of birds of the same feather flocks together, this is the height of insincerity and deception which will rebound in the 2023 elections, we will teach PDP the language they need to understand in the 2023 polls.
“No Igbo political decisions have been made so far on the 2023 election but at the appropriate time, Ndigbo will decide the political direction to go but not the PDP, for shunning the southeast, Atiku will face the consequences of his actions.”
