Chidi Samuel|
South East leader rose from a meeting in Enugu on Saturday and refused to endorse Peter Obi as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate for the 2019 presidential election.
The leaders have, therefore, scheduled a meeting with Atiku Abubakar.
This development confirms our earlier story http://alabingo.com/atiku-under-pressure-from-igbo-leaders-to-drop-obi-as-running-mate.
The leaders who were not part of the process that produced Obi are said to be angry that they were not consulted before Obi was chosen by Atiku Abubakar campaign.
Ebonyi state governor and Chairman, South East governors forum said the leaders of the region were not consulted before the nomination of Obi.
According to the governor, that contravenes an initial agreement that leaders of a region will collectively endorse a candidate for any position zoned to the region.
The governor further stated that any position zoned to the region must be deliberated by key stakeholders in the region.
Umahi said, however, that Atiku Abubakar has promised to visit the South East leaders when he returns from a short visit outside the country.
It is not clear yet what the leaders want but earlier in the day a source who attended the meeting informed this platform that the idea was not to stop Obi but to teach him a lesson but with the latest development, it appears the leaders may press for a new candidate as Atiku’s running mate.
Those who attended Saturday’s meeting include, Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi, Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Enugu state governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and amongst other leaders of the party from the South East.