2023: Break up in PDP will affect Atiku’s chances, pave way for Tinubu’s victory – Adeyeye

From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti

Senator Dayo Adeyeye, former Minister of Works and the National Chairman of South-West Agenda for Asiwaju 2023 Presidency(SWAGA), has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will win the 2023 presidential election.

Adeyeye predicated his statements on the break-up that has rocked the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which led to the emergence of Peter Obi and
Rabiu Musa Kwankawaso as presidential candidates of Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria People’s Party(NNPP) respectively, saying the division will slim down the chances of the PDP’s presidential candidate, and Tinubu’s arch rival, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in winning next year’s election.

The SWAGA national chairman who expressed that the issue of a run-off will not come to play in next year’s poll, pointed out that his principal, Tinubu, is a candidate that can deliver and has strong political networks across Nigeria to defeat Atiku and other contestants.

The former Minister and a strong promoter of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency, made the remarks on Thursday while featuring on a political programme on African Independent Television(AIT) monitored in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Adeyeye said :”Tinubu has the network and strong political structures to amass 25% of votes in two/third of the 36 states. There won’t be any need for any run- off, because the APC has a strong candidate that can deliver”.

He said the breaking away of strong politicians, who had emerged as presidential candidates in other parties would automatically affect Atiku’s chances in the forthcoming poll.

“You could all remember that the PDP lost in 2015 presidential poll to President Muhammadu Buhari because five governors defected to the newly formed APC. And if you look at the strength by adding five governors to the then APC, the two parties were nearly of equal strength and that affected the ruling party.

“So in the coming election, the same scenario is playing out. About four months ago, Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso belonged to the same party. So, Obi and Kwankwaso, who are now in LP and NNPP will divide the votes that are supposed to be for Atiku in the coming election.

“But if you look at the APC, the party is intact and strong behind Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Though, some few people had defected and I think that affected all the major parties. If you look at the two main parties, you will realise that APC is the one that is more cohesive, stable and intact”.

On the news making the rounds that Tinubu and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike met in London to perfect alliance ahead of 2023 election, the SWAGA leader said though he could not confirm whether Tinubu and Governor Wike are in alliance talk, but added that the Rivers State Governor joining the APC candidate would further enhance Tinubu’s victory.

“Governor Wike had always insisted that power must rotate between the North and the South for justice and equity. So, if he supports us, it means he wants to be part of the struggle to ensure political balancing between the
North and the South and that will be good for APC.

“What the PDP did by giving the presidency to the North after eight years of presidency was a betrayal of trust and confidence. If not for Tinubu, the APC could have been in the same mess now. His participation in the primary prevented a Northern aspirant from emerging in APC because of his strength and network”.

Responding to the Muslim-Muslim ticket and the hullabaloo the crisis generated, Adeyeye said this will soon be over, adding that the noise around it was fastly subsiding with the emergence of
the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong as the Director General of Tinubu/Shettima Campaign organisation.

“The APC has been trying hard to resolve the crisis emanating from Muslim-Muslim ticket. Some of those who felt aggrieved had reflected on their agitations and we are talking. The question has been that will Atiku’s presidency serve their interest more than Tinubu or not?

“But let me say that since Governor Simon Lalong became the DG, things have begun to change. There had been a serious turnaround. Majority of our Christain brothers from the North Central are now working hard for Tinubu/Shettima presidency.

“They are rooting for him because they knew he has risen beyond the fantasy of making promises he could not fulfil. They knew that he is a man who has the experience to practically implement his policies and not those who were just dreaming”.

Dismissing the widespread insinuation that Tinubu is terminally sick to lead a country with multifarious challenges like Nigeria, Adeyeye said Tinubu is mentally alert to lead and ensure good governance .