Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,  has promised that the party will reclaim the Imo governorship seat in 2023.

    The guber election, an off-season poll, will take place on November 6, 2023. The PDP lost the position on January 14, 2020, when the Supreme Court sacked Emeka Ihedioha, and swore in Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election. Speaking at a campaign rally in Owerri on Saturday, Atiku defined what occurred in 2020 as a daylight robbery. Atiku said Imo had been a traditional PDP state, stressing that all those who won the governorship position in Imo had been PDP loyalists. He said the party is poised to rejuvenate the glory of Imo as a peaceful state by making sure that it brings an end to the brigandage that has characterized the state. He described his visit to Imo as traditional homemaking, stating that the first traditional title bestowed on him in Igboland was from Imo State.

He said that he recognized Igbo people as astute businessmen and promised to set aside $10 billion to support businesswomen and youth in the state. Atiku said, “PDP is Imo and Imo is PDP. We are poised to reclaim our traditional home base. What happened in January 2020 was daylight robbery and I know Imo people are ready to bring back their loving parry. “We recognize your position as astute business people and we have decided to set aside $10 billion to support women and young people in their businesses.” Earlier, Ihedioha told the people that a vote for Atiku would ensure their vote is secured and no one would steal their mandate again. “If we vote Atiku nobody will steal our votes again. Under 7 months, I paid all pensioners owed, and restore good governance. I ask you to transfer the love you have for me to my boss, Atiku Abubakar,” the former Deputy Speaker said.

In his address, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, Ifeanyi Okowa said Imo youths had shown that they were ready to vote for the PDP. Okowa pointed out that as entrepreneurs, Imo youths will benefit immensely from the PDP. He said, “Atiku will set aside $10bn to support small businesses across the country. He told the large crowd.” The DG of, the PDP Presidential campaign council, Gov Aminu Tambuwal, while addressing the crowd, said “Atiku is very familiar with the issues of Imo state, southeastern states, and Ndigbo. He is here seeking your support to recover this country from insecurity, poverty, and economic woes. If you vote for him you will be convinced that Atiku is the only candidate that can set Nigeria on the path of greatness.” The rally held at the Heroes Square was attended by the party’s vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, the party chairman,  Iyorchia Ayu, the national secretary,  Samuel Anyanwu, former Governor Emeka Ihedioha and a host of party stalwarts.