Atiku In Bauchi: Says, The Coast Is Clear For Victory In 2023

• Receives thousands of defectors to PDP

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Not fewer than 142,000 members of the various political parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as part of their welcoming of the Presidential candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar to the Bauchi State capital.

Welcoming the defectors from the 20 local government areas of the state into the PDP family at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Memorial Stadium, Bauchi, which was filled to capacity, Atiku declared that the coast to winning the 2023 presidential election by his party is now clear.

The defectors included the majority of the members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Abubakar Y Suleiman as well as other notable politicians in the state led by the former Deputy Governor, Arch Abdul Sule Katagum and former gubernatorial aspirant of the APC, Faruk Mustapha, who is presently the Director General of the PDP gubernatorial campaign Council.

Atiku told the crowd that converged at the Stadium that a new page in their political career has commenced, adding that it was a good development that will bring a lot of gains for the PDP in 2023.

In the words of Atiku; “We are here today to celebrate this great achievement in Bauchi state. I can recall the last time I was here, I saw the development the state recorded in all sectors, and these strides were achieved under the administration of Bala Mohammed of the PDP.

“Now, you have a government that is always progressing, but you should always have this at the back of your mind that the politics in the North started from Bauchi State, that is why you must not treat Bauchi politics with levity.

“Today, we recorded another achievement of additional people to the party but, this is not the main campaign, we will still come back again. We came solely to receive our brethren who decamped from the APC,” he said.

The Waziri Adamawa said the campaign train will be back to Bauchi in a bigger way saying; “we are here today just to receive and welcome into the fold, decampees from various political parties as well as to meet with PDP stakeholders in the state to chart a way for victory in the 2023 General elections”.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, said that the North-East sub-region has not yet produced a President adding that “but, today, God has chosen Atiku Abubakar, who is a son of the North-East to correct all the challenges bedeviling the nation and unify it”.

Ayu assured the decampees that they will enjoy a level playing ground within the party at all levels, adding that the PDP train is moving forward, hence everybody should come on board.

Earlier, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed assured that he will deliver the state to the PDP in all the elective offices and specifically told the Presidential candidate to count Bauchi State as one of the states he will get massive votes from.

Mohammed extolled the good leadership qualities of Atiku, saying that he has what it takes to rule and unify Nigerians considering his nationwide connection and association.

Other speakers, including the PDP presidential Campaign DG, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, and Campaign Council Spokesperson, Senator Dino Melaye, expressed confidence that the PDP will win the 2023 General Elections convincingly.

Also present at the colorful gathering were the Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, former Vice President Namadi Sambo, former Governors Babangida Aliyu, Boni Haruna, and other top PDP chieftains from across the country.

Atiku, who visited the state for the first time after emerging as the flag-bearer of the PDP, was received by thousands of supporters of the PDP and members of the APC in the state who defected to the PDP.

From the Bauchi International Airport, Atiku Abubakar and the entourage proceeded to the Emir of Bauchi Palace for a courtesy call before heading for the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium for the campaigns.