PANDEF Reveals True Position On Peter Obi After Its Youth Wing Rejected The Labour Party Candidate

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) says there is no going back on its endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi for the 2023 elections.

This position was made known in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Ken Robinson.

The forum said while it does not have wings, those behind the purported withdrawal of PANDEF’s support for Peter Obi are influenced by childish musings based on the activities of greedy politicians.

The reiteration became necessary after a group identified as the youth wing of PANDEF declared it would support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and not Obi for the 2023 polls.

Naija News recalls Niger Delta youths under the aegis of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Youth Wing rejected the endorsement of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by the national leadership of PANDEF.

Rising from an emergency meeting on Sunday at the headquarters of PANDEF, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the leadership of PANDEF Youth Wing announced their support for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

In a communiqué released after the meeting, the National Deputy Youth Leader, Vincent Oyibode, said Clark and other PANDEF leaders were on their own with Obi’s endorsement.

Oyibode said Clark and other leaders did so without due consultation with stakeholders, particularly the youth body of PANDEF, comprising national officers and state chapters’ chairmen.

However, in its own reaction, the PANDEF national leaders said the endorsement of Obi remains sacrosanct.

The statement reads: “The attention of PANDEF has been drawn to certain gibberish in the media, regarding the forum’s endorsement of Obi, credited to a purported Youth Wing of the forum.

“PANDEF urges the public to disregard the reported rejection of Obi’s endorsement by the so-called youths.

“It is borne out of infantile musings.

“In the first place, PANDEF does not have “wings”.

“The forum maintains a consolidated framework at the national, state and local government levels.

The statement adds: “For the avoidance of doubt, PANDEF stands by the endorsement of Obi by our national leader, Clark, and the affirmation by SMBLF.

“Without equivocation, PANDEF’s endorsement of Obi is sacrosanct.

“PANDEF will not be distracted by the misdemeanor but would instead intensify efforts to ensure Obi’s victory in the Niger Delta region.

“The forum cautions youths in the region not to succumb to the antics of greedy politicians and shun all acts of violence before, during and after the forthcoming elections.”