Tony Okafor, Awka
A coalition for presidential aspiration of the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has hailed him for listening to their request to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party has lost no fewer than 15 million votes with the development.
The coalition in a statement issued after the official announcement of Peter Obi’s exit from the PDP, urged the former governor to form alliance with credible Nigerians and run for president in 2023.
The group added that Obi as a decent man would not play the type of what it called transactional politics going on inside PDP and that was why he was wise to dump the party.
The statement signed by Marcel Ngogbehei, Chairman of the Coalition for Peter Obi, CPO, read partly, “We are delighted that the former governor of Anambra, Mr Peter Obi listened to the request of his 23 support groups to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the shenanigans going on inside the party ahead of the party’s presidential primary.
“With the recent development, it is obvious that PDP has automatically lost 15 million votes because of Peter Obi’s decision to dump the party.
“We therefore urge Mr Peter Obi to look for Nigerians of like minds and vie to be president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.”
Obi had on Wednesday in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, titled ‘Resignation From Peoples Democratic and Withdrawal From the Presidential Contest’, said he was happy to have contributed to the nation-building efforts of the country through the PDP.
The letter read in part, “I am writing to intimate you of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, which was conveyed to the Chairman of Agulu Ward 2, Anaocha LGA, Anambra, effective Friday, May 20, 2022.
“Consequently, I am by this letter informing you of my withdrawal from the PDP Presidential Primaries
“It has been a great honour to contribute to nation-building efforts through our party. Unfortunately, recent developments within our party make it practically impossible to continue participating and making such constructive contributions.”