The People’s Democratic Party flagged off its 2023 presidential campaign in Uyo on Monday with its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, urging Nigerians to vote for the party to ensure good governance.
Abubakar appealed to Akwa Ibom people and all Nigerians to vote for the PDP to restore unity, to salvage the economy and to ensure security of the nation.
He said Nigeria’s economy was better under the PDP and urged voters to return the party to power.
“Today, we are inaugurating our campaign to rescue Nigeria from poverty, insecurity and bad governance. Therefore, I urge you to vote for the PDP.
“When you vote for PDP there will be no more hunger and insecurity.
“If you vote for the PDP there will be unity in Nigeria,’’ Abubakar said.
Also addressing the rally, National Chairman of the party, Iyochia Ayu, thanked Nigerians for turning out for the flag-off of the campaign.
Ayu said PDP’s campaign train was leaving the station slowly to enable those who were yet to get on board to join the train.
He said Nigerians were anxiously waiting for PDP to return to power to rescue the country and to restore the economy.
“We will restore the economy and there will be jobs for the teeming youths of this country; we need your support to restore the country. PDP will not disappoint you,’’ Ayu said.
In his welcome remarks earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom said that the PDP’s presidential candidate has the capacity to unite the country.
Emmanuel, also the Chairman, PDP Campaign Council said that the campaign was to revitalise Nigeria and to restore hope to the country.
He urged Nigerians to support the presidential candidate of the PDP to eradicate poverty; hunger and insecurity from the country come 2023.
“Today, we flag off the campaign to bring hope to Nigerians. All Nigerians are expected to join the movement to rescue the country. Nigeria is a great country.
“We call on all Nigerians to join hands and build Nigeria and bring the country back. We need a president who knows the solution to our problems,’’ Emmanuel said.
The highpoint of the campaign was the handing over of the PDP flag to Abubakar by Ayu.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged members of the All Progressives Congress Women Presidential Campaign Team to work hard in ensuring victory for the party in the 2023 general elections.
The president, who made the call at the inauguration of the APC Women team in Abuja on Monday, said the call had become imperative in view of the fact that there was no alternative to APC electoral victory in the 2023 presidential election.
Buhari, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, enjoined members of the team to take the party to greater heights by developing and implementing a collective an inclusive party strategy for smooth victory in the elections.
He described the inauguration of the APC women presidential campaign committee as the most crucial component of the 2023 campaign.
“To this end, I call on all members of this committee to take on this great responsibility as a testament of your selfless service to the APC.
“I strongly believe that this committee will take the APC to greater heights by developing and implementing a collective and inclusive party strategy to ensure a PCS victory in the 2023 election, because there is no alternative to our victory,” he said.
The president, who congratulated all members of the committee and the leadership of the party for the laudable initiative, wished the team a successful campaign season.
He, however, warned that the team must always be guided by the fact that their mission would involve going round the whole wards in the 774 Local Government Areas of the Federation campaigning for the party.
“The mission that lays ahead for the Committee’s is very clear, and time is not on your side. As this lunch is being hosted in Abuja, we must remember that the real work lies in far places, away from Abuja.
“The task at hand lies in over 1000 wards and 774 local governments across the country where a party faithful will have to make a case before fellow citizens on our party’s candidate by articulating the vision and the programme for the country.
“The campaign should therefore resist the temptation for it to be turned into an Abuja activity,” he added.
The president also lauded the Nigerian women for their sacrifices and loyalty to the party
He said: “Throughout my political journey, and my tenure, as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, women have remained the most loyal, the most supportive group in my mission for a better Nigeria.”
Buhari, therefore, charged the women to extend the same support he had been enjoying from them to the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, and the vice presidential candidate, kashim Shettima, as well as other APC candidates during and after the 2023 general elections.
The president also directed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, in conjunction with the Minister of Women Affairs, to work closely with the office of the First Lady and the National Assembly to ensure the passage of bills aimed at creating a level playing field for Nigerian women.
The APC Women Presidential campaign Team is headed by the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari.
