Onyekachi Eze 
Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), has said the former presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, has defended Obi’s support for the governorship candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, saying it was based on democratic principles.
The media group in a statement issued by its spokesman of the group, Ibrahim Umar, accused opponents of trying to divert attention, instead of focusing on the issues that drive the election.
According to him, they “Are trying to change the conversation by attacking Obi for supporting his party candidate that he found suitable for the job.
“They anchored their criticism on Obi supporting Bar Akpata because his zone is not supposed to produce the next governor and that Obi is going against his long-standing principles on power rotation.
“But what they failed to understand is that Obi’s stand on zoning remains, but the Labour Party in Edo even under the leadership of an Edo State indigene then did not zone their gubernatorial seat to any area in particular, and delegates that elected Akpata were strictly only Edo people from all the local government areas, including Edo central because they found him suited for their desires for the state.”
Obi media added that the former presidential candidate does not trade competence and reputation for zoning, stating that as a democrat, he will always respect the position of the majority, especially if it is anchored on the track record of the candidate.
“In all his campaigns in Edo, in his characteristic manner, Obi did not indulge in name-calling but concentrated his messages on issues that are needed to take Edo State and Nigeria forward,” it said.
It described the attack on Obi as attempt to distract attention from the issue that is driving the Edo state gubernatorial election, which places the Labour Party flag bearer in a good stand.
“Our advice for those bitter that Obi is campaigning for his party flag bearer is to leave the people of the state to decide who their next governor will be not to focus attention on mundane things.
“Our principal’s wish, as always, is to urge all critical stakeholders involved in the conduct of Saturday’s election, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives, to ensure a level playing ground in such a way that the world will see that Edo voters and not any other variables prevail in the end,” it stated.
