By Charles Igbo
Senator Uche Ekwunife, a political ally of Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, until they parted ways when Obi quit the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has given reasons why she will neither work for, nor vote Obi at the February 25, 2023.
Ekwunife is from Obi’s Anambra State.
She spoke on the heels of a report which, a couple of days ago, quoted her as saying she would vote Obi, and urged her followers to, also, vote Obi. She had, allegedly, asked them to vote PDP in all the other elections, except the Presidential election.
Ekwunife was alleged to have said that while addressing her constituents due to the backlash she received when she earlier asked them not to vote Obi.
But in a statement she personally signed on Monday, the Senator debunked making an about-turn on her earlir stand on Obi. She said she never endorsed the Presidential ambition of the LP Candidate.
She, however, acknowledged Obi as her Leader, but said she would never vote for him. Aside from the fact, she said, that they belong to different parties, she said she would never abandon her Party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for Obi. Most important, Ekwunife noted that even though, Obi is a force to be reckoned with in the Presidential election, he would not win because he does not have the spread.
Her statement titled: My purported endorsement of Peter Obi reads:
“It has come to my notice that an Online Blog has been circulating articles claiming that I have endorsed tye Presidential Candidate of the LP, Mr Peter Obi, in the forthcoming February poll.
“It further attributed statements that may translate as adopting Obi as my Candidate for the election. I want to state categorically that those statements never emanated from me or my Campaign Council.
“I, also, want to state that Peter Obi is my leader and my elder brother from Anambra Central whom I respect and hold in high esteem. But our political aspiration has become divergent, hence, the need for me to focus on delivering our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Vice Presidential Candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, who are of the PDP.
“May I restate that I am of the PDP, and we have candidates in all the elective positions across Nigeria, and I cannot at this point, work against my Party or any of her candidates for whatever reason.
“Peter Obi Is no doubt, a force to reckon with in the Election, but will not be able to garner the required spread that will secure a win, unlike Atiku who has everything it takes to win the election with a wide margin.
“I urge you to key into Atiku’s Presidential aspiration as a project to rescue Nigeria and get her on the path of greatness.”
Ekwunife’s statement has been described by many as undiplomatic. Said an Anambra PDP elder: “Uche is free to campaign for her Party’s Candidate. Nobody begrudges her that. But she crossed the line when she said Obi will not win because he would never be able to get the spread. That was undiplomatic. She should have skipped that bit.”
