Ibrahim Abdulkarim, a prominent figure within the Labour Party (LP), has stated that Peter Obi, the LP’s flag bearer, will receive more votes in northern Nigeria compared to southern Nigeria. According to Abdulkarim, who is also the director general of the voters coalition initiative “Big Tent Nigeria”, the people of the north are frustrated with ongoing issues such as insecurity, illiteracy, and unemployment.
Abdulkarim made these comments during a recent appearance on Channels Television’s election program, “The 2023 Verdict”. He stated that despite the notion that Peter Obi wouldn’t receive support from northern Nigeria, he believes that due to the anger and dissatisfaction in the region, Peter Obi will receive more votes from the north, potentially even more than from some southern parts of the country.
The northern region of Nigeria, made up of 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory, has significant voter strength, as seen in the past six elections since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. With only three weeks left until the February 25th presidential election, the northern region has become a crucial area for presidential candidates seeking bloc votes in the millions.
Along with his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed from Kaduna in the north, Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State in the south, has also taken his campaign to the northern region. Abdulkarim, as the director general of the Obi-Datti Independent Campaign Council, claims that a survey he conducted showed that northerners want Obi and Baba-Ahmed due to their frustration with politicians who have misused their resources in the past eight years.
Abdulkarim states that the people in the northern villages are tired of the suffering they are facing and want a change in the country’s governance. He cited the example of Zamfara, where gold mining has led to lead poisoning and contributed to poverty, hunger, and insecurity. He emphasized that Nigerians are exhausted and ready for a change.
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