2023: I never said I don’t believe in Igbo Presidency, never disparaged Peter Obi; I appreciate him — Gov Umahi 

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has distanced himself from a fake social media post recently in circulation authored by “miserable and frustrated political jobbers”, wherein he purportedly casted aspersion on Igbo presidency and the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi.

Governor Umahi made the remarks in a press release signed by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Hon Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji.

He stressed that he never said he does not believe in Igbo Presidency and never disparaged Peter Obi, rather, that he appreciates him.

In a post circulating online in social media, titled “I Can Never Support Igbo Presidency, Let Tinubu Take It“, Umahi was quoted as saying:

“I have no singular reason to support anyone from the Eastern region to become the President of this country because we pretend a lot.

“The gang up in the East is becoming worrisome and has not in any way helped us as a tribe. Tell me why I should support anyone from the East contesting to be President.

“During the APC Party Primary, i put in my best but what did I get in return betrayal. Among all the aspirants, I am the most qualified but they ganged up against that mandate and turn around now to ask me to support an Igbo Presidency.

“I have said it countless times that Peter Obi is going nowhere and Ebonyi people are not going to vote him. Our vote belongs to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Ohanaeze now have voice to shout support Igbo Presidency but they lost their voice when injustice and saboteur was the order of the day during our party primary election.

“I wish to reaffirm my stand that our vote belongs to the APC Candidate and nobody from Ebonyi is going to vote for Labour Party. I have said it earlier and I am still saying it again.”

Responding, however, through the Commissioner for Information in the press release, Umahi debunked the publication and its authorship.

He said: “The attention of Ebonyi State government has been drawn to a social media post being recently in circulation and purported to have been authored by the hard working Governor of Ebonyi State by miserable and frustrated political jobbers.

“For the records, the Governor of Ebonyi State is not against His Excellency, Peter Obi for Presidency but in fact deeply appreciates his courage in his campaign.

“His Excellency, Engr Umahi never said that Peter Obi is going nowhere and that he does not believe in Igbo Presidency.

“However, His Excellency David Nweze Umahi is a member of APC and shall support the party in all their state and national elections as a good party man.

“The Governor believes that most party members will defend their parties during elections and people will freely vote for candidates of their choice.”

In another development, meanwhile, the Governor of Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom, has sought that the presidential candidates of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar respectively, as well as the APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should all step down for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election.

Read the report in full below:

2023: Gov Ortom wants other presidential candidates to step down for Peter Obi in viral video

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