For Obi’s main political opponents, former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), low turnout at the rallies poses a particular problem because they risk being cut off from the South East in terms of support.
Support groups of the Labour Party yesterday marched through the streets of Enugu in a show of force that suggests the entire southeast region may be moving towards voting for Obi, a situation, analysts say, would greatly affect the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections.
Findings from Leadership Sunday indicated that the LP and the Obi candidacy are gaining enough momentum as it is having a positive effect on other Labour Party candidates, particularly those vying for governorships and National Assembly seats.
The LP currently believes it not only has a good chance of winning the election but is the party to beat, according to some governorship campaign teams and party spokespersons.
The APC is in charge of Imo and Ebonyi, two states in the South East. The PDP governs two additional states, Enugu and Abia, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is in charge of Anambra.
Yesterday, as several Obi support groups began what they termed as a two million march for the former Anambra State governor through Enugu, the crowd was unusually large.
Vehicular and commercial activities were almost grounded in some parts of Enugu, as the supporters of the Labour Party Presidential Candidate marched through different parts of the city.
From the Okpara Square where the crowd assembled before taking off, the numbers kept growing as the crowd chanting pro-Obi songs marched through the Enugu State capital.
The growing support for the Obident Movement has long taken over Enugu State with members of the major parties showing overwhelming support for the Obi project.
The recent attack on the Labour Party meeting in Awgu recently could not deter the overwhelming support for the Obi presidency, as the march recorded an unprecedented success.
The state chairman of the Labour Party in Enugu State, Casmir Agbo, assured that the governorship candidate of the party in the state for the 2023 general election, Chidioke Edeoga, will emerge the next governor of the state
He disclosed that the asset and structure of the party for the election remain the masses who have been embarking on solidarity rallies for the party.
Agbo assured that he has gotten enough support to cripple the PDP in the state.
He said despite the attacks on members of the Labour Party in the state by suspected members of the PDP, Edeoga will emerge victorious.
Similarly, the media adviser to Alex Otti, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said that Obi’s candidacy is impacting positively on Otti’s governorship candidacy in Abia State.
He said, “This is not just because of Obi’s popularity, but also because the two men are long time close friends who share similarity of excellent antecedents in the corporate world.
“This is coupled with the fact that the people consider Otti a strong voice and a reliable personality who has remained consistent and courageous in lending his voice against perceived leadership failings in the state.”
Ekeoma who is also the spokesman of the Alex Otti campaign organisation added that this is in spite of the setbacks the former banker experienced in the 2015 and 2019 elections.
