Sam Gbeke in Abuja
The Director General Obi-Datti Presidential campaign organisation, Dr. Doyin Okupe emphatically stated that the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has at least 15 million voters “in the kitty.
He was speaking at a world press conference where the LP unveiled a list of 1,234 member of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, (PCC), with Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Mohammed Zarewa as chairman, Clement Ojukwu Secretary and Yunusa Tanko as Chief Spokesperson.
The campaign council has directorates headed by directors.
Okupe said that 80 per cent of new voters are supporters of the LP candidate.
The LP chieftain said about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s 38 million social media users are registered to vote, adding that 52 per cent of the figure are ‘Obidients’
He described the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), and the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP,) as expired commodities with defective structures.
In his words, “if there was a strict pre-qualification process, both the APC and PDP would have been disqualified from the start of the presidential race.”
He described the process that produced presidential candidates of both the APC and PDP as flawed saying the youths would decide the immediate future of Nigeria.
Okupe said: “And I am not talking here, about the dubious nature of educational records, nor even allegations of foreign court certified criminal narcotic records , nor any basis of poor health, and not even of falsified or advanced age but I refer to the fundamental parameters of competence and character, where none of these other known candidates, measure up, in any way, to the sterling qualities of Peter Obi and Dr Yusuf Datti-Ahmed.
“Similarly, on the considerations of true nationalism, geographical equity and fairness of ticket, none of them comes close.
He said the PDP standard flag bearer is a product of political injustice, and that of the APC is flawed due to same faith ticket.
“The PDP candidate is a product of an unjust and dishonourable process, that clearly violates the equitable rights of the entire southern Nigeria, and the desire for balance in Presidential power , already enshrined in the constitution and history of that party, which was shamelessly subverted by subterfuge, and indeed anything built on injustice , ungodliness and evil conspiracy, can never stand.
“As for the APC, the presidential candidacy is fundamentally flawed , through the adoption of a skewed and insensitive muslim-muslim ticket ,despite all objections across religious lines, in a highly religiously sensitive country like Nigeria , at a time where all reason, calls for maturity , fairness , equity, justice and balance, for the good of the country.
He believes that the youths political activeness has changed the narrative.
“Nigerian youth, by this new, unprecedented demonstration of political vibrancy, have signalled to the failing and fading established political order, and transactional political class, that they are tired of the leadership failure that has brought Nigeria, the giant of Africa, to her knees today.
“The arrogant, corrupt and clearly selfish practices of this old order politicians and their parties, who believe they can always buy their way into power, and always compromise every institution, have now been spotlighted, and stand totally rejected, by this new class of Nigerian voters.
“The large crowds of highly disciplined ,self organised, self-funded, self-motivated and clearly trans-ethnic-politico-religious groups, and vocal associations of youths, simultaneously calling for a new political culture and new leadership personae, across all the country’s political regions, in a sustained, orderly, but insistent manner, is a clear call and warning to us, as a country – to sit up, shape up and do what is right, before it becomes too late”.
He urged security agencies to stand tall against all nefarious political practices, and vile tendencies, that may want to sabotage the peace and progressive march of the country.
He noted that the 2023 general elections will be the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC), biggest test. He said the commission has no choice, but to act as a fair, impartial, fearless and patriotic umpire.
Okupe added: “The notorious practice of compromising the system with corrupt inducement and money politics, and by the manipulation of the regulatory and security agencies, is no longer the norm, and will be hard to fly in these elections.
“Already, we have seen, earlier this year, in this very dispensation, how corrupt money politics and evil political conspiracies, have destroyed unity, peace and cohesion, and stifled healthy democratic determination, in the internal structures of political parties, leading to heightened tensions and political disaffection.
He promised that they won’t allow such to continue.
“But we cannot allow these unhealthy practices, to continue to truncate the destiny of our nation. As leaders who profess love for the country and the people we aspire to lead, we must resolve to put a stop to these practices, this time, and commit to playing fairly, by the rules.
“To the vast Nigerian majority who are wallowing in the unmerited poverty and sordid deprivations that decades of poor leadership has foisted on our country, the coming 2023 election, offers you a great chance to use your vote to turn around the situation.