PDP members turned out to welcome Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate, to Ado Ekiti, the state capital of Ekiti, on Tuesday for a rally.
Earlier in the day, commercial vehicles and motorcycles had been off the road, leaving travellers between states and within states stranded.
Even though PDP members claimed that the transporters’ inaction was intended to discourage people from attending the demonstration, the commercial transport operators insisted that their decision was made in response to statewide prayers observed by their associations.
In the midst of this. It was also gathered by ValidViewNetwork that a former governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose; former governorship candidate, Bisi Kolawole; acting PDP State Chairman, Lanre Omolase; seven of the nine PDP National Assembly candidates and 20 of 26 House of Assembly candidates shunned the presidential rally.
The PDP candidates, who had earlier rejected the inclusion of Social Democratic Party members in the Presidential Campaign Council for the state on the condition that it could hurt their elections, said all entreaties to meet with Atiku over the development were shunned by the presidential candidate.
In his speech to the gathering, Atiku said that, if he were to win the election on February 25, his administration would use all available means to promote socioeconomic development. He also said that he would take his time building the Ado-Akure Road and other highways connecting to Ekiti State.
The PDP presidential candidate said, “I am highly impressed with the huge crowd we are seeing here today despite antics of the APC government to cripple and sabotage the rally with artificial fuel scarcity and stoppage of drivers from Ekiti roads; let me assure you that we will make you happy for making us happy today.
“Ekiti is a state of intellectual prowess and we will tap into this in our government to develop and transform the nation,” Atiku said.
PDP Vice Presidential candidate and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, said, “With what we have seen here today, we are sure that the people of Ekiti State will vote for Atiku” as he urged the electorate in the state to “use your PVC to send APC out of Nigeria.”
Earlier, PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, handed over flags to the Ekiti South Senatorial candidate, Biodun Olujimi; and House of Representative’s candidate for (Ekiti South 1), Henrich Akomolafe.
