A chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Adakole Ijogi, has confirmed the directive of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) that the region should vote the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, at the February 25 election.
Ijogi also said he will personally vote for the former governor of Anambra State on Saturday, expressing doubts about the chances of his party’s flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar.
“The leadership of the Middle Belt Forum has resolved that for the presidential election, it is not about party this time around, it’s about candidate.
“So, the Middle Belt people have been directed to vote for 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,” he said on Channels Television’s The 2023 Verdict on Wednesday.
The leadership of the Middle Belt Forum alongside other regional groups like Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) had earlier Ijogi, who is a political economist, claimed that about 50% of PDP members would not be voting for Atiku, saying they will rather vote for Obi because he stands out among the other candidates.
He said the decision of the Middlebelt Forum concerning the 2023 presidential election transcends political party and that the people have gone through a whole lot in the last few years, including killings, kidnappings among others.
Ijogi noted that Obi has made successful inroads in the Middle Belt and would get the votes, which hitherto were PDP’s.
The Middle Belt in Nigeria includes Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Kwara, amongst others. Already, Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has wholeheartedly endorsed Obi for President.