A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Raymond Dokpesi, has urged Ndigbo in the South-East to support Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential ambition. 

Mr Dokpesi, a PDP Board of Trustees member, made the appeal on Monday in Umuahia, while addressing the leadership of Abia PDP on why the zone must rally round Mr Abubakar. 

Mr Dokpesi said that if elected president, Mr Abubakar would be in office for only one term of four years and thereafter pave the way for an Igboman to succeed him.

He said that the Igbos were qualified to rule Nigeria, and that an Atiku presidency would help realise this agitation, for which he pledged to stake his life.

He said that it was expedient for PDP’s presidential flag bearer to come from the north in order for the zone to complete its remaining one-term, truncated by the death of President Musa Yar’Adua.

He argued that the north had yet to complete its eight-year tenure in line with PDP zoning arrangement, hence the need for Mr Abubakar to be given the presidential ticket.

Mr Dokpesi said that for the avoidance of doubt and fear of possible betrayal, the agreement for Mr Abubakar to run one term and handover to the South-East would be documented in “black-and-white”. 

In response, the Abia PDP chairman, Allwell Asiforo, said the chapter would take the message home and make its position known at the appropriate time.

(NAN)