Atiku Calls for Unity in PDP
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has urged party officials and his followers to refrain from making pronouncements to preserve the PDP’s unity.
He communicated this in a statement signed by his spokesperson Paul Ibe on Thursday, stressing that all party leaders, including Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, are united in working for the victory of the PDP in the upcoming elections.
“It has become imperative to appeal to all party members, leaders and everyone related to, connected with or associated with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to desist from making comments that potentially reduce the optics of PDP’s image as a united political party,” the statement said.
“This appeal becomes necessary to call the attention of party leaders and members to the diversionary antics of the ruling All Progressives Congress, which is manufacturing a false impression of division within the PDP and aims to hoodwink the Nigerian public to overlook the monumental failures of the ruling party.
“Today, Nigerians look to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the charge in ousting the ruling party. This expectation from the people is why the APC is jittery about their impending fall in next year’s general election. It is also why the ruling party manipulates the political process to create a sense of division in the PDP.
“Because they know that there is nothing to campaign with from their records of performance in office, the APC has elected to play the role of the devil’s advocate, regaling in celebration of their imaginary invincibility upon a fraudulent claim that the PDP is divided.
“It is for this reason that appeals to every true member of the PDP and anyone who truly wishes the success of the PDP presidential candidate to not fall for the antics of the APC in making statements that could give credence to the false claim of divisions in the PDP.
“All the leaders of the party, including especially the governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Wike and all governors of the PDP are united in working for the victory of the PDP in next year’s general election across the board.
“What is at stake in the next year’s election is the future of Nigeria, and all leaders and members of the PDP are on the same page in the mission to rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of the APC.”
Atiku’s comment follows the rift between himself and Wike, who he defeated in the PDP presidential primaries. Recall also that after the primaries, Atiku had picked the governor of Delta state to be his running mate. The decision has long caused division in the party.
