The three leading presidential candidates in the 25th February 2023 Nigerian presidential election, Messrs Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Bola Tinubu, on Saturday, took their campaign ‘fight’ to Nigerians in the United States.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the support groups for Abubakar, Obi, and Tinubu converged on New York at the Nigeria Independence Day Parade and carnival to canvass votes for their candidates.
Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Obi is that of the Labour Party (LP) and Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The support groups for the leading presidential candidates joined the Nigeria Independence Day Parade and carnival in a float, with DJs and supporters dancing to the candidates’ campaign lyrics.
They later regrouped at the Dag Hammarskjold Park where they continued singing and dancing to attract Nigerians to their candidates.
Save Nigeria Group for Obi/Datti float at the 62nd Independence Day parade in New York on Saturday
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Speaking with NAN, the coordinator of Save Nigeria Group for Obi/Datti, Stephen Osemwegie, said Nigerians in the diaspora wanted a Nigeria that works for everyone, bemoaning the economic situation in the country.
“When people call us from home, the calls are no longer ‘how are you. The calls are ‘please help me, save me. So we in the diaspora are trying to get involved and being engaged,” he said.
“We found Obi to be a competent leader with integrity. He does say ‘go and verify’ and we verified his claims and they are largely true.
“Except maybe he may miss one number or the other but if you go through his antecedents, he is a good man.
“And in Nigeria, we don’t have this type of people coming out very often. So we see this as a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“That’s why we came out in full force to let people know that this ‘Obidient’ movement is not just a Nigerian thing,” he said.
He also said that many Nigerians in the diaspora would vote, adding, “because I will be in Nigeria for the election, I’m that determined. Many of us are going to buy our tickets”.
“One of the things Save for Nigeria Group is doing is to ask Nigerians, “instead of going for Christmas, go in January or February and vote”.
