The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi said Nigeria is in dire need of a president who has the necessary mental, physical energy and capacity to take it out of the quagmire.

He noted that the people have moved beyond voting on sentiments based on religion, state of origin or entitlement mentality.

Addressing a crowd in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, the presidential candidate said that old politicians have continued to divide Nigeria along ethnic and religious lines for their selfish interest saying that hunger and hardship do not recognize ethnicity and religion.

Obi who expressed hope that Nigeria will be great again irrespective of what it is currently facing said his first priority when elected will be to unite the country and restore peace.

He said he will ensure that the educational system and the currency are strengthened as well as ensure an increase in the manufacturing and production capacity of the country.

His words: “[The] 2023 elections will be the turn of the people to elect who will be their leaders and not for any candidate’s turn; it is not going to be by tribe, religion because poverty and hardship do not recognize such things. Rather people should consider competence, capability and capacity. It is going to be based on whoever has the required mental and physical energy and capacity.”

Obi also promised to ensure the full operations of the ongoing Ibom Deep Seaport and turn Akwa Ibom into an export processing centre if elected the next president of Nigeria.

Speaking earlier, the national chairman of the party, Julius Abure lauded the people for coming out en masse to support the party’s presidential candidate promising that Obi will never betray their trust if elected.

Attributing the insecurity, and poverty in the country to bad leadership, Abure urged the people not to vote for those who lack the capacity to address the problems in Nigeria and who do not have their interests at heart.

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Wednesday, expressed optimism that the party would win the 2023 general elections, saying there would be no room for All Progressives Congress, APC, to govern Nigeria again.

He said the APC was ashamed of it’s performance in the last seven and half years and had resorted to lies and propaganda.

Speaking during the party’s governorship Local Government campaign flag-off at Patani, Patani Local Government Area, Okowa said the PDP was out to repair the destructions and damages inflicted on Nigerians by the APC-led Federal Government.

Saying that the APC had nothing to offer Nigerians other than poverty, hunger and insecurity across the country, Okowa who also addressed a mammoth crowd when the campaign train moved to Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area, stressed the need for Nigerians to reject the APC and return the PDP to power in the 2023 polls to enable it to rescue and rebuild the country.

He said: “As a party, we have done well for our state and country but it’s unfortunate that the APC came in 2015 and destroyed all the achievements we recorded.

“Because they are ashamed of their performance in the last seven and half years, they have resorted to lies and propaganda. They have nothing more to offer than inflicting poverty, hunger, insecurity and a collapsed economy on Nigerians.

“I have been going around the country and I can assure you that PDP will win the 2023 Presidential election. Atiku and I will repair the damages caused by the APC, everything PDP did before they crashed and they still have the effrontery to the campaign.”

Urging the people to vote for the Governorship candidate of the party in the State, Rt. Hon Sherrif Oborevwori to ensure continuity in the development of the state, Okowa said; “I have worked very hard for this state and much more work still need to be done. So what remains to be done Sheriff Oborevwori will continue from where we will stop.”

Also speaking, the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, noted that; “for the first time we have somebody from our dear state nominated as Vice-Presidential candidate” advising the people to vote for all candidates of the party at the polls.

“So we must work hard to ensure that the PDP wins the Presidential election because if PDP wins, Okowa will take some people with him to Abuja and many of our federal roads will be attended to.”

Governorship candidate of the party, Rt. Sheriff Oborevwori said; “I have learnt a lot from Governor Okowa and I am very happy that through your votes and by the grace of God, he will become our next Vice President. Okowa has achieved a lot in the last seven and half years, but I will achieve more for Deltans if you elect me.”

On his part, the state Chairman of the Party, Chief Kingsley Esiso, said “Nigerians are tired of the APC-led Federal Government. This is a train to rescue and restore Nigeria to the old days”.

Director-General of the State Campaign Council, Chief Funkekeme Solomon, called on the people to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs to enable them to vote for all candidates of the party.

The highpoint of the rally was the presentation of flags to candidates of the party and the reception of Peoples Redemption Party, PRP candidate for Patani Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mr Tarelayefa Orogun, who said that he decided to forego his mandate to support PDP.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday said the Southeast people have no reason to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 presidential election.

Atiku stated this at Ndubusi Kanu Square, in Owerri, at the PDP, presidential rally venue.

His reason was that he would sit down and listen to the Igbos who are at the forefront of the campaign for the restructuring of the country.

He also promised to inject the whole of $10 billion into businesses in Igbo land to boost their economic activities as people known for businesses.

According to Atiku, “If I am the President Imo is at the presidency. We know we have security challenges in Imo and all over the country. But once I am elected the president, I will sit down with you to work out the problem. I have been associated with the Igbos for decades.

“I know Igbos are businessmen. If elected I will bring back business in Igboland. Once I am elected I will inject $10 billion into small businesses in Igboland with that nobody will say he does not have anything to do in the Southeast.”

“Just like, the entire Southeast is yearning for restructuring of Nigeria. Once I am elected I will sit down with you and work with the National Assembly on the restructuring of Nigeria. I assure you that I swear to God that I will deal with it.

“So, the people of the Imo state and the Southeast have no reason not to vote for the PDP. Honestly, as I see you and I like the way you came out to welcome me. I like this that I don’t feel like leaving you,” he concluded.

Earlier in his remark, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, and the governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, said: “We want everybody to be committed to this campaign till the day of the elections. Our party has brought Atiku Abubakar, he is the only person that can correct anomalies created by the ruling APC, Atiku said he will bring 10 billion dollars to support small businesses. I am convinced Atiku will win this election. I greet all of you and I know you are ready to work for the PDP.”

Adding his voice, the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, was of the view that, “Imo state is a PDP, State. Imo people are wise people since we started in 1988, Imo has been a PDP, state and without PDP, you can’t win the Imo state. But we must win with unity.

“We must not allow division in Imo PDP. vote for Atiku and all the candidates of the party at the National Assembly seats. ones Atiku wins the Imo state will be PDP. once PDP wins the insecurity will be addressed in Imo state so that Imo will enjoy itself again because Imo is a prosperous state.”