South West leader of Atiku Abubakar Collectives, Bode Ajewole, has reiterated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not zoned its presidential slot to any part of the country.
Friends of Abubakar in the South West and Kogi State, led by Ajewole, made the point in Ibadan.
Ajewole said zoning the presidency “is peculiar to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its not binding on other parties.”
He explained that the Atiku presidency project is being championed by the group in view of the freedom of all zones to field aspirants to contest at the primaries.
“Nigeria and Nigerians need him to rescue us from the social, economic, and security challenges facing us as a nation and we are all committed, prepared, and ready for the emergence of Atiku as the APC presidential candidate.
“We are assuring all and sundry that we, the leaders of this political family, friends and associates of Atiku from these seven states have resolved to mobilise support for his presidential aspiration because of his political antecedents,” Ajewole added.
He cited the relationship between Atiku and the Yorubas, saying supporting him “is the same as supporting any other Yoruba son. Atiku is our son, he identifies so much with Yoruba tradition, culture and aspirations as any Yoruba son.”
He linked this to Atiku’s marriage to Titilayo, “our precious daughter and sister from Ijesaland,” adding that he also holds “more than 10 Yoruba traditional titles.”
Ajewole expressed the determination of the group – comprising loyalists from Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, and Kogi States – to ensure Atiku wins the APC primaries.
He urged other party faithful in other zones to also rally support for Atiku.