Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was conspicuously absent at the campaign rally of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar in Enugu on Tuesday.

PDP members in Enugu also rejected the call by the national chairman of the party, Senator Iyiorcha Ayu to reject the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi and vote for Atiku.

Ugwuanyi’s absence may not be unconnected with the decision of the G-5 Governors not to support Atiku until Ayu steps down as national chairman of the party.

However, Enugu Deputy Governor Mrs. Cecelia Ezeilo; members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party; member representing Enugu North, Senator Chukwuka Utazi; Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Enugu Speaker Edward Ubosi and other notable personalities in the state were in attendance.

Some officials of the State Government were also absent from the rally, indicating the rift between the national leadership of the party and the aggrieved G5 Governors would not end soonest.

However, Atiku, caused a stir at the event held at Michael Okpara Square, when he snubbed Deputy Governor Mrs. Ezeilo who came to greet him after speaking for about 30 seconds at the podium.

The Deputy Governor told the crowd: “Since 1999, we have been doing it and this is not going to be a different case. As we have been doing it, let us do it again.”

However, when she stepped down from the podium and proceeded to the VIP stand and stretched out her hands to greet Atiku, the former vice president disdainfully waved her away. She returned back to her seat without shaking Atiku’s hands.

Also, there was a huge uproar when the PDP national chairman, Senator Ayu called on the members of the PDP in the State to reject LP presidential candidate and vote for PDP.

He said that a vote for Peter Obi’s Labour Party is a vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), a remark that obviously did not go down well with the party members.

“I want to appeal to you not to be distracted by some people who would be asking you to vote for Labour Party. I say this because a vote for Labour Party is a vote for APC.

“Enugu is PDP and PDP is Enugu State. Enugu has always voted PDP. PDP is your DNA.

“I believe you are still going to vote PDP from top to bottom. Atiku will emerge victorious as president with Ifeanyi Okowa as his vice president,” Ayu said.

Atiku insisted that an Igbo man could only become President after his tenure as president.

He said: “when I came to Enugu few months ago for a town hall meeting, I told you that I am going to be the stepping stone to an Igbo president. And I mean that statement.

“Whether from Southeast or Southsouth, I am going to make sure that an Igbo becomes president after me as president because Igbo is a universal race. That’s why I chose an Igbo man from Delta as my running mate.

“As you can see, Nigeria is geared towards a PDP government. So, the next federal government is going to be formed by PDP. I appeal to Enugu people to make sure that you remain in the PDP so that you be in the mainstream and be part of that government,” he said. (The Nation)

•Atiku in Enugu

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