Umahi warns that southeast delegates will only support PDP candidate who picks Igbo running mate

EBONYI State governor and chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum has warned that Ndigbo delegates to the forthcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will only vote for a candidate who agrees to pick an Igbo running mate.

Next weekend, the PDP will hold its annual convention in the Rivers State capital Port Harcourt, where it will elect its presidential candidate, who will run against President Muhammadu Buhari in next February's polls. Among the candidates seeking the party presidential ticket include Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, Bukola Saraki, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Sule Lamido, Tanimu Turaki, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang, Ahmed Datti and David Mark.

Addressing the PDP faithful at the Pa Ngele Oruta township stadium in Abakaliki, Governor Umahi said that the southeast geo-political zone must be allowed to produce the next vice president of Nigeria. He pointed out that as a result, the zone will only support a PDP presidential candidate who will allow offer the position of running mate to an Igbo candidate.

Governor Umahi added: “We are good people and the leaders of the southeast will meet, as never again shall we be marginalised and we must speak with one voice. Whoever we are supporting, the vice presidential candidate must come to south east, we cannot compromise that."

He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) not to compromise the elections, adding that the continuous existence of Nigeria lies in the hands of the body and security agencies. According to Governor Umahi, Inec must be born-again to avert a crisis in the forthcoming election.

“I just want to appeal to Inec at the national level and to our security agencies. I read in newspapers where Inec is complaining about violence and the security of the lives of its officials but when you keep your hands clean, when you make promises of no compromise, expect no violence but it is when you compromise before coming to the field, that you can expect  problem.

I see the opposition in Ebonyi, especially the nine governorship aspirants and some of them are not qualified to even be a councillor, yet they are boasting that they will write the results of elections in Abuja but they can’t do that in Ebonyi State. Let them continue to deceive themselves that they will write results of elections but they have been rejected by Ebonyi people,” Governor Umahi stated.