Anambra loan: Pressure from presidency won’t force Obi to withdraw – NDC chieftain

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, in Abia State Uko Nkole, has told the presidency that Peter Obi will not withdraw from the presidential race over the recent reports published by the Anambra State Government alleging unpaid loans during Obi’s tenure as governor.

Nkole also accused Governor Charles Soludo of supporting the presidency in rummaging for materials that could be used to stop Obi from participating in the 2027 presidential race.

Nkole, who is the Abia North Senatorial candidate of the NDC, said the latest strategy had failed.

He told journalists that the story about the loan allegedly borrowed by Peter Obi was allegedly designed by the presidency to force Obi out of the presidential race.

He, however, said the former Anambra governor was gaining even more popularity despite the reports.

Nkole, a former member of the House of Representatives, said the Presidency was still afraid of the 2023 Obi wave, which, according to him, was making the presidency look for avenues to discredit the NDC presidential candidate.

“It gives you the idea that the man has been investigated all round and they found nothing on him.

“Whatever claim that is being peddled that got the presidency attracted is to tell you that it does not wish Nigerians well.

“But unknown to the APC and the presidency, they are helping Obi’s campaign,” Nkole said.

He also cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against repeating the excuse it gave in 2023 about the presidential and National Assembly elections, warning that Nigerians would not tolerate another claim of a network glitch.

He further urged the Nigerian electorate to protect their votes to ensure that they were not manipulated against their wishes.

“Nigerians should be vigilant on election day by protecting their votes and should even be prepared to provide hotspots to INEC officials if they claim that there is no network,” he said.