Ohanaeze Ndigbo Disowns Atiku, Says ‘We Didn’t Endorse Him’

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has disowned the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Nigeria’s 2019 poll, Atiku Abubakar.

The group said it has never at any time endorsed the candidate.

Making the position of the Igbo group is Chuks Ibegbu, deputy national publicity secretary of the organization.

Ibegbu said the clarification became necessary following misconceptions over the event of November 2018 where some Igbo leaders endorsed Abubakar for president.

The leaders were said to have endorsed the PDP presidential candidate after he met with them.

According to him, the endorsement was done by the “friends of Atiku”, adding that the organisation has not endorsed any particular candidate.

He said the organisation needs to be circumspect, “as our children are in all the political parties.

“It is erroneous to say that we endorsed Atiku. Ohaneze Ndigbo did not endorse anybody. That meeting at Nike Lake Resort was organised by friends of Atiku.

“However, due to our peculiar circumstance in the country, we will identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria if voted into power.”

He said the organisation would soon meet to take a holistic position on the 2019 general election.

Ibegbu further noted that, “Ohaneze Ndigbo has been canvassing for our people to identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria.

“We still stand on that and in the next few days we shall meet to take a holistic position on the elections.”

Ibegbu said the John Nwodo-led Ohaneze Ndigbo has given its “modest contribution by re-jigging Igbo leadership and issues concerning our people”.