By Collins Sunday
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, Monday, received no fewer than 10,000 members of the All Progressives Congress who dumped the party for the PDP in Nasarawa State.
Receiving the defectors alongside the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, during the party’s presidential campaign rally in Lafia, Atiku commended them for having the courage to dump the APC.
He said the APC-led government both at the national and state levels had failed to deliver dividends of democracy to the people, adding that he would correct all the wrongs in governance if he is elected in 2023.
He also promised to create job opportunities for youths across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, and embark on massive projects to boost the state’s economy.
“If I am elected as president of Nigeria in 2023, I will earmark $10bn to create job opportunities for the youth and women of our country.
“Let me also announce that my administration will construct a road that will link Nasarawa with neighbouring states. So, we want you all to give us your votes the way you gave us in the previous elections,” Atiku added.
On his part, Ayu said despite the APC’s presence in Nasarawa State, he was optimistic that the PDP will deliver at least 95 per cent votes to Atiku in 2023.
Earlier in his welcome address, the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, David Ombugadu, expressed confidence that with the massive turnout at the rally, the people of the state have demonstrated their readiness to vote for candidates of the PDP in the 2023 general election.
He added that he had offered free healthcare services to 18,000 residents of the state since he joined active politics in 2011, and promised to do more for the people if he is voted into office as governor in 2023.
“I am challenging the people of the state to ensure that the stolen PDP mandate in 2019 is reclaimed. The time has come for the citizens to be freed from hunger, poverty and hardship under the APC-led government,” he added.
