Regular public activities were completely shut down in Asaba on Tuesday when the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his campaign team stormed the Delta State capital.

Atiku was in the home state of his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, alongside members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, chaired by Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State.

Massive crowd trooped the streets leading to the Stephen Keshi Stadium, where the rally was held.

The rally witnessed the defection of the state secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Nick Ovuakporie; the Director of Campaign for the state All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Wilson Okpepigho; Labour Party House of Assembly candidate for Ndokwa East, Philip Ogboma; and their supporters.

This comes as the South-South National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) endorsed Atiku as the preferred candidate for students in the region.

Addressing the enthusiastic supporters, the former vice president restated his commitment to implement his five point agenda of restoring unity, addressing insecurity, devolving power to component units, investing in education and revamping the economy, if elected.

Atiku said he was not in the state to campaign but to show appreciation for the support Delta has given him in his political career since 1999.

“We are not here to campaign but to show appreciation. I have received support from Delta in my political career since 1999, Delta has never failed me,” he declared.

“I shall not betray the trust of Deltans and indeed that of Niger Deltans. It is because of your support for us that we decided to take Okowa as vice. As you know, VP is a stepping stone, and so you need to support us,” he stated.

Atiku assured that, there will be no strike in the nation’s tertiary institutions under his government, adding that Niger Delta states would benefit immensely from resource control or restructuring which his administration would implement.

The former vice president declared that the APC-led Federal Government has divided Nigerians along ethnic, religious and regional lines, noting that the present administration has brought insecurity to the country.

According to him, his administration will restore the nation’s unity, tackle insecurity headlong and revive the economy.

Receiving those who defected from other parties to the PDP, national chairman of the party, Sen. Iyiorcha Ayu stated that Okowa was chosen as running mate because of his administration excellent performance as the governor of Delta State in the last seven and half years.

Ayu thanked Deltans for trooping out en-masse to welcome the PDP presidential campaign train, and urged them to translate the turn out into votes during the general elections.

Running-mate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who expressed elation with the large turn out, encouraged party members to embark on door to door campaign to ensure emphatic victory for the PDP.

•PHOTO: National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu (2nd right) accompanied by the Presidential Candidate of the Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (2nd left), his running mate and Delta Senator, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa (left) and the member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (right) waving to the mammoth supporters as they arrived Stephen Keshi Stadium, venue of the party's Presidential Campaign in Asaba on Tuesday. PHOTO: SAMUEL JIBUNOR

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