David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, says if his party — the All Progressives Congress (APC) — loses the 2023 presidential election, he would wish for Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) to win.
Speaking with journalists on Friday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Ebonyi governor said Obi will get “substantial votes” in the south-east, but that he believes the APC will win the election.
Umahi, however, said the “acceptability” the LP candidate has received does not mean Obi has what it takes to defeat the APC.
“He may not see it, but that is not to say that Peter Obi is not going to get substantial votes in the south-east,” he said.
“So, while my party takes the victory, he would have prepared a very good ground for the south-east presidency, so that nobody is going to write us off. And you can see the level of his acceptability, which does not translate to victory over APC. I’m sure of that.
“But it’s a good movement. And it reassures the south-east people and the entire country that we are accepted, you know; that we will one day become the president of this country. It is very important.
“The Peter Obi movement is a movement that is anchored on equity, justice and fairness. It may not translate to outright win because I must defend my party; I must wish my party well and I have the ticket of my party. But whether what he is doing has meaning there, it is not only in the south-east; it does have meaning.
“As a party man, I would wish that our party wins. And if God says no, the next person I would wish that should win is Peter Obi, because I believe strongly, and I will say it anywhere, in this north-south presidency, after the north has taken eight years, there is no moral justification to be seeking to take another eight years. It should go to the south.
“And so, I’m not wishing Peter Obi away. God has the final say and he has the power and gives to whomever He wishes.”
Umahi added that Bola Tinubu, APC presidential candidate, is well-positioned to win the election.
“The structure and the spread of APC is such that victory is assured and I can assure you that some of the disagreements in some states are going to be resolved,” he said.
“Mechanism has been put in place by Mr. President, the candidate of the party, his vice and then the national chairman and leadership of the party, to sort out those differences.” (The Cable)
