Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to reports that some prominent South East leaders were planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the party’s alleged refusal to zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the region.
The reports had claimed that Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, and several others were planning to dump the PDP alongside their supporters in 2023.
Umahi was said to have informed the national leadership of the PDP that he was leaving the party, and that his decision was “irrevocable”.
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But reacting, Atiku has urged members of the PDP in “all zones” of the country not to leave the party.
He tweeted on Monday, “The Peoples Democratic Party is the best friend Nigeria could have. All geopolitical zones deserve a political party that believes in Nigeria and not a party that believes otherwise.
“The @OfficialPDPNig has much to offer all parts of Nigeria, and I urge all Nigerians in all zones to keep faith with a party that has kept faith with Nigeria and will be equitable to all.”
Meanwhile, governors and national assembly members from the South East are said to be threatening to dump the PDP should Governor Umahi eventually leave the party.
The south east leaders are reportedly considering defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) because the party may zone its presidential ticket to the South East in 2023.