The Peoples Democratic Party has praised the people of Oyo State for their bravery in endorsing the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and other candidates in the run-up to the general elections in 2023.

The PDP also noted with satisfaction that despite attempts to sway their voting preferences, its members and supporters in the state continued to support Atiku at the Thursday kickoff of the PDP governorship campaign.

Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s national publicity secretary, stated this on Friday in a statement.

Ologunagba said, “The overwhelming chanting of “Atiku! Atiku!” by the resilient crowd in rejection of a request that they follow the dictate of some individuals in the presidential election summarily conveyed, in one voice, their nonnegotiable resolve to vote Atiku Abubakar as the next President of our country.

“The people of Oyo State as independent-minded have again demonstrated their sobriquet as Pace-setter in the politics of Nigeria by establishing that power lies in the will of the people and not the endorsement or dictate of any person or group of persons.

“Unambiguously, the expression of the people of Oyo State at the flag-off event firmly signposts and reaffirms the support of the South-West geo-political zone for Atiku Abubakar and all our candidates in the South-West and across the country.”

“The PDP advised those seeking to dictate to Nigerians on their electoral preferences to retrace their steps, especially now that it is clear that the people are not ready to be influenced by personal, group or sectional consideration in their support for their presidential flag bearer and the PDP.”