Igbo in Middle belt to mobilise 7 million votes for Atiku/Obi

. Say. Igbo’ll not relocate from North during election

OBIORA IFOH, Abuja

Ndigbo in the three middlebelt states of Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau have unanimously endorsed the quest of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to run for the President of Nigeria in the February 16, Presidential Election.

Former Vice President Abubakar, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, received this unanimous endorsement during a mobilization and sensitization rally held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday 5th February, 2019.

The mobilization rally organized by the Eastern Peoples Front drew Igbo delegates from Plateau, Benue and the host Nasarawa States.

Addressing Ndigbo residents in the three states, Coordinator Contact and Mobilization, Eastern Peoples Front and former Minister for Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, informed participants that the Eastern Peoples Front were in Nasarawa state as part of the organization’s mobilization tour of the 19 Northern States in Nigeria.

According to him, “the Ten-day tour was aimed at sensitizing the over seven million registered Igbo residents in the 19 northern states, to get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and to vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the February 16, presidential election without fearing for their lives, businesses or properties.

“The tour is taking the team to seven zonal locations in Northern Nigeria viz. Adamawa, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto States, where we will be addressing and sensitizing Igbo residents in the states and in all other contiguous states to vote for Atiku and Obi for the presidential election.”

He told the enthusiastic crowd that EPF members are in Nasarawa as part of their determination to encourage them to pick up their cards and to come out en mass on 16th February, 2019 to vote for Atiku/Obi Presidential ticket.

National Coordinator of Eastern Peoples Front, Elder Ken Emechebe, while addressing the delegates and participants informed them that the mobilization and sensitization of Ndigbo resident in Northern Nigeria, planned in collaboration with the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), led by Professor Ango Abdullahi, was to “encourage them and to forestall the often unhealthy developments where Igbo resident in the North, fearing attacks on their lives and businesses by their host communities pack up and either leave for their home states or stay indoors without casting their votes.”

EPF according to him is setting up structures and appointing conversers and lead supervisors for State, Local Government and Ward levels, in all areas with great concentration of Ndigbo, for coordination and uninterrupted mobilization and for ensuring that all Igbo come out to vote on the Election Day.

“They are to put in place contingency arrangements for security protection of lives and property of Ndigbo in their respective locations, before, during and after the Presidential elections.

“With the endorsement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by the apex Igbo Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, EPF is out to ensure that the over seven million Igbos in the northern states, who are part of the entire 26.7 million registered Igbo voters across the length and breadth of Nigeria, are mobilized to participate fully in the election to bring Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to power on May 29, 2019.”

Welcoming the EPF team to Lafia, President of Ndigbo in Nasarawa State, Chief Cyril Ibe, thanked EPF for embarking on the mobilization and awareness project which he believes will turn in more votes for Atiku during the Presidential Election. He said that Ndigbo in Nasarawa state have unanimously adopted the Ohanaeze endorsement of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the preferred candidate and have therefore resolved to work to ensure that he is voted into power.

Former President of Ndigbo in Nasarawa State, Engr Mike Agbai, said that Ndigbo in Nasarawa state has eight hundred thousand registered voters and will ensure that these votes are delivered to PDP during the election.

Delegates from the three states after considering various reasons adduced for supporting Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, unanimously endorsed his candidacy and resolved to work hard to ensure he is elected in as President on February 16, 2019.

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