Atiku Leads PDP Campaign Rally for Edo Guber Election

By Eric Elezuo

As the campaigns wind down in the race to Osadebe House, the final destination of the Edo State governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the electorate to come out and enmasse and vote, and ensure to guard their votes to avoid manipulation.

Leading the charge in Oredo, Benin City, venue of the PDP mega and final rally, former Vice President of Nigeria, who is the Waziri Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, told the people of Edo State not to be intimidated, threatened or be scared of voting, but, rather vote, and defend their votes on Saturday to ensure that their candidate in the Governorship election in Edo State, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, emerges victorious.

He recalled that the opposition threatened the State four years ago, but it didn’t work because Edo people can’t be intimidated, and ‘Edo no bi Lagos’. He appealed to the residents of Edo State to do the same this time around and ensure the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, becomes the governor of Edo State.

Also addressing the mammoth crowd, chairman of Edo National Campaign Council and governor of Adamawa State Ahmadu Fintiri, commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for his many developmental strides.

He Said, “Obaseki has led a landmark in Edo State in terms of development, performance and human capacity development. Edo people need to bring a competent person like Obaseki or a man better than Obaseki.

“You can’t vote for somebody else than Obaseki, we will support Asue Ighodalo because he is the most credible in this election come September 21st governorship election.

“We all will be here next Saturday, we can’t be intimidated, threatened by anybody or party. We will vote, protect and defend our vote and ensure Asue Ighodalo wins the election”.

Chairman of the Governors forum and Bauchi State Governor Balar Adulkadiri Mohammed said the PDP governors are more united than ever. He noted that PDP are all backing the Asue Ighodalo to emerge governor of Edo State.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke said dancing is sure in Edo State to come 21st of September 2024 as light and darkness can’t agree. We have the best candidate in this Edo election as Obaseki has done well for the Edo people and Asue Ighodalo will do more.

In his welcome address the chairman of Edo State chapter of PDP, Anthony Aziegbem, thanked guests present urging Edo people to come out enmass to vote PDP candidates.

He said, “it’s only Edo people that can determine who will be their governor come September 21st governorship election in Edo State No matter the intimidation, harassment, threat the people will stand their ground to vote their choice come September 21st in Edo State”.

The BOT Chairman Adolphus Nwabara said he has warned Prof. Mahmood Yakubu not to be intimidated but create a level playing field for all candidates in the election.

The party used the medium to call on the INEC Chairman to use the Edo election to correct the wrongs of last year.

“Don’t be intimidated, do the right thing and retire as a clean man,” the party advised Yakubu Mahmood.

Handing over the party’s flag to the Governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo, the PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum called on the INEC chairman to refrain from calling results at night as the midnight announcement will be resisted by Edo people.

“I call on all Edo people to be watchful and defend their votes as the Edo election is a test for democracy in Nigeria”.

The PDP governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo and his running mate received the party flag from the National Chairman of PDP and Ighodalo thanked all present in the rally assuring them that he would take Edo to higher ground.

He said he will lead a successful State where citizens will be prosperous. “I will govern sincerely, transparency and do what will make Edo great again. PDP is a party of courage and we dare to fight and win our elections come September 21st 2024.

“We promise to take Edo to the next level and make the State amongst the first world States.”

The Edo governorship election is billed to hold on Saturday, September 21, 2024 with the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo squaring up against 16 other candidates from various political parties, two of which are formidable. They are Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).