By Akinwale Kasali
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar has told members of the Party and electorates not to be distracted by the internal crisis rocking the Party, saying that the Party remain united, resolute and a formidable force going into the 2023 polls.
Atiku made this remark in Bauchi State where he, alongside his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, and the Party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu received defectors from other political parties.
Speaking at a North-East stakeholders’ meeting held at the Multi-Purpose Indoor Sports Hall, shortly after the rally at the stadium, Ayu said he received over 300,000 defectors into the PDP in Bauchi State.
Others who attended the event were the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and former Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Governors of Bauchi, Bala Mohammed; Adamawa, Umaru Fintiri and that of Taraba, Darius Ishaku and their deputies were also in attendance.
Former governors of Jigawa, Sule Lamido; Adamawa, Boni Haruna and Gombe, Ibrahim Dankwambo; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; also attended among other dignitaries.
Loyalists to the camp of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, were absent at the campaign rally In Bauchi
Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting, Ayu said that over 300,000 defectors are been received in the State.
He said, “I want to assure you, my brothers and sisters, that PDP is a united family, they will try to divide us but they will fail, stay united. If we were not attractive as a party, there won’t be so many defectors coming back to their party.
“Today, we received over 300,000 defectors into the PDP. I am to welcome all of them and to assure them that they will be treated as every other PDP member of the family, they will make us strong, they will make us capable because Bauchi state for example, is one of the key states in Nigeria.”
