We Will Vote Peter Obi Based On Middle Belt Forum Directive — PDP Chieftain

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adakole Ijogi, on Wednesday, said the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has directed people in the region to vote for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

The PDP chieftain vowed to vote for Obi on the 25th of February, 2023, adding that he doubt the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar will win.

He, however, stated that people of the region will vote for PDP in other elections apart from the presidential election.

The PDP chieftain stated this in an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday.

Ijogi said, “The leadership of the Middle Belt Forum has resolved that for the presidential election, it is not about the party this time around, it’s about the candidate.

“So, the Middle Belt people have been directed to vote for the former governor, Peter Obi of the Labour Party for only the presidential election. Then in other elections, they have been advised to vote for the PDP. So, we will be voting for Obi.”

According to Ijogi, about 50% of PDP members would not be voting for Atiku, adding that they will support Obi because he stands out among the other candidates.

He noted that Middlebelt Forum took the decision having seen what the people have gone through in the last few years, including killings, and kidnappings among others.

Ijogi said Obi has made successful inroads in the Middle Belt and would get the votes which should have gone to the PDP.

The Middle Belt in Nigeria includes Benue, Taraba, Kogi and Kwara, amongst others.

Ijogi said, “When you look at the 2019 election PDP and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar got over 25% in the six states of the North Central and FCT. If you look at the North-East, the PDP and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar could only pull 25% in 3 states, his home state of Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe, he had 9% in Yobe, 9% in Borno and then when you go to the North-West it was also like that.

“Just Sokoto, Jigawa and Kaduna, and even in Kaduna it is Southern Kaduna which is part of the Middlebelt, and these are the areas the Peter Obi movement has now occupied. So I will tell you that the Middle-Belt is highly and very unlikely to vote PDP this coming election.”