Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has lamented the fact that voting preferences at the convention still reflected an old pattern of primordial sentiments and wondered if the national desire to build nationhood in Nigeria would ever become a reality.
In a statement he personally signed which was made available to Africa Today News, New York he, however, congratulated Atiku who polled 371 votes to defeat his closest rival, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who scored 237 votes.
Anyim, who polled 14 votes thanked all those who supported his quest to be the PDP 2023 presidential candidate.
‘I am proud to have gone through the race to the end. However, I am shocked that consideration for voting the PDP presidential candidate was not based on burning national issues and how to resolve them, but still on the old primordial sentiments. It appears doubtful if our search for nationhood is yielding any results.
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‘I deeply appreciate and thank all those who stood by me throughout this race, especially those that voted for me at the primary election. I want to assure all of you that we shall continue to stand tall until we birth the Nigeria of our collective dreams.’
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged defeated aspirants to close ranks and work for the success of the party in next year’s election.
He also appealed to leaders and stakeholders to avoid sabotaging it but to put in genuine efforts for the party’s victory.
According to him, if PDP is to win and rescue Nigerians from the maladministration of theAPC-led Federal Government, all hands must be on deck to achieve this mission.
In a statement by his media aide, the governor expressed confidence in Atiku’s capability to provide needed leadership that would lead the party to accomplish its ‘Rescue Nigeria’ agenda beginning from 2023.
He urged him to, as the face of the PDP in 2023 general elections, bring his political and socio-economic wherewithal to bear on the responsibility.
Okowa, who was Chairman of Accreditation Committee of Convention, also congratulated National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu and other stakeholders of the party for conducting a peaceful and successful convention.
Similarly, Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra and presidential aspirant prayed for God’s blessings on Atiku.
Similarly, former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, said Atiku has the ability and tenacity to restore the unity, security and economy of Nigeria if elected president.
In his congratulatory message to Atiku, the national chairman of PDP, Dr. Ayu and the stakeholders in a statement he personally signed, Nwobodo said the PDP’s victory was for all Nigerians.