‘If given APC ticket, I’ll defeat Atiku before 12noon of Election Day’– Umahi

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Ebonyi State Governor and 2023 All Progressives Presidential Aspirant, David Umahi, Sunday, boasted that if he wins the Presidential ticket of the APC, he will defeat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, before 12noon of the Election Day.

Governor Umahi stated this when the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the National Association of Women Journalists, paid him a courtesy visit at the new Presidential lodge, Government House, Abakaliki.

Umahi said apart from other credentials speaking for him, Nigerians would prefer a young and energetic person to be the next President.

The Governor said he was not comfortable with the show of financial imprudence exhibited by the presidential aspirants of the PDP, during their Party’s primary election in Abuja, adding, “assuming I was the President, I would have impounded those vehicles in Abuja. I weep for this country.”

He said with the happenings in the PDP, he had been vindicated on the issues he raised before leaving the Party, adding that Ebonyi had benefited a lot more in the 7 years administration of APC than the 16 years of the PDP.

He called on Nigerians to cast their votes for leaders with enviable pedigree and antecedents, rather than those without the vision to transform the country.

Speaking on Biafra, Umahi insisted that Ebonyi State was not part of Biafra, saying that Ebonyi had over the years suffered disenfranchisement and marginalisation in the hands of other South-Eastern States and cannot allow further enslavement of the State.

He applauded the President, Muhammadu Buhari (rted) for his enormous support to the growth and development of the state.

Umahi, who charged media practitioners to partner his administration in every sector advised them to guide against any behaviour that is capable of putting the media Community in a bad light.

Earlier, the National President of NUJ, Chris Ishiguzo assured the Governor of the cooperation of the media even as he commended Umahi for advancing the course of development in the state.

Atiku urges PDP presidential aspirants to work with him

Meanwhile, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has urged his fellow contestants in the primary election to work with him for the victory of the party.

Abubakar said this on Sunday morning in Abuja in his acceptance speech after he was declared winner of the PDP primary and party’s candidate.

He described the primary election that produced him freest and a well-fought election, pledging to work with the co-aspirants and give them sense of belonging, if elected.

“Let me also use this opportunity to call on my fellow contestants and to assure them that I am ready to cooperate and work with them and give them a sense of belonging in this party and our next government.

“Therefore, my fellow compatriots, I want to appreciate your efforts in deepening our democratic processes in this party. It was a well fought primary election.

“ So, I commend you for that and I look forward to working with you very closely. So that together we can build this party to a level where we can take over the government,” Abubakar said.

He also appealed to aggrieved party members to return to the PDP, pledging that their grievances would be addressed.

Abubakar described the exercise as the freest election conducted by the party, saying the outcome remains historical in bringing fundamental changes to governance and democracy.

“Today, we are making another history. The history, which we believe will bring about fundamental changes in governance and also in our political processes.

“Today, we have witnessed another one of the freest elections to be conducted by our great party.

“Today marks another milestone in the process of our democratic gains,” he said.

The former vice president reiterated his pledge to unify the country as well as deal with its economic and security challenges.

He recalled that in his declaration he referred to himself as a unifier and pledged to unify the country.

“I am going to deal decisively with our security challenges in this country. I also pledge to confront our economic challenges, which were caused by the APC government.

“The PDP made Nigeria one of the most prosperous countries on the African continent.

“We implemented economic reforms that brought about jobs, and prosperity in this country,” the gains according to him had been wiped out, pledging to return them.

Abubakar polled 371 votes to defeat his close contender, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who polled 237 votes.