The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Friday commended the commitment and courage of the people of Oyo State for their support for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar for the February election.
This was contained in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Friday.
Ologunagba said that the party commended the tenacity of PDP members and supporters in Oyo State for expressing support for Abubakar at the flag-off of the PDP governorship campaign in Oyo State on Thursday, in defiance of attempts to dictate their electoral preference.
“The overwhelming chanting of “Atiku! Atiku!” by the resilient crowd in rejection of a request that they follow the dictates of some individuals in the presidential election, summarily conveyed in one voice their unnegotiable resolve to vote Abubakar as the next President of our country.
“The people of Oyo State as independent-minded and politically savvy have again demonstrated their nickname as pacesetters in the politics of Nigeria, by establishing that power lies in the will of the people and not the endorsement or dictates of any person or group of persons.
“Unambiguously, the expression of the people of Oyo State at the flag-off event firmly signposts and reaffirms the support of the South West geopolitical zone for Atiku Abubakar and all our candidates in the South West and across the country.”
The PDP spokespersons counselled those seeking to dictate to Nigerians on their electoral preferences to retrace their steps, according to reports.