A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Chief Sampson Orji, has declared his support for the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
Orji, a former Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, disclosed this through a statement in Umuahia on Thursday.
He noted that his preference for Obi against PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is anchored on Obi’s competence.
He promised to mobilise support for Obi “not because he is his fellow Igbo man, but for his antecedent.”
He said: ”I’m a PDP man till tomorrow, but I will support Obi not because he is Igbo, but because of what he represents.
“Obi is a movement. My family and friends will vote for him.
“Atiku is my friend, but Obi is a better candidate.”
Orji added: “Aside from competence, equity also favours Obi’s candidacy.
“South-East is the only zone in Southern Nigeria yet to take its turn at the Presidency.
“Why can’t Atiku support Obi, who was his running mate in 2019?
“I must speak the truth. What are we gaining in PDP that for 16 years it was in power, Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway is not passable?
“You cannot drive from Umuahia to Ikot Ekpene or Owerri to Umuahia on a good road.
“So, it is blindness to tell me to support Atiku, when we have Obi who has shown competence and capacity to take Nigeria out of the woods.
“Should I work against him because he is Igbo?”