President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he told his supporters to vote for candidates of their choice in Imo State during his campaign rally on Tuesday.
The president had, on Tuesday, during his campaign in Owerri, the Imo State capital, asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters to vote for candidates of their choice.
APC, in Imo, has been facing serious crisis following the emergence of Senator Hope Uzodinma as the governorship candidate of the party, against Uche Nwosu, the preferred candidate of Governor Rochas Okorocha. Nwosu is the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the state.
Presidential Spokesperson, Garba Shehu told journalists that the president stated so, “because the crowd at the rally cut across other political parties.”
Shehu, dismissed insinuations that President Buhari did not show full support for the APC while campaigning in Imo State.
“The massive crowd that gathered to welcome President Buhari in Imo State was made up of not only supporters of the APC in the state, but also supporters of other parties who are united by their love for the President and their desire to see him re-elected, despite the local candidates they support,” Shehu said.
He explained that President Buhari’s consciousness of this obviously-mixed crowd was the reason he did not speak only about support for the APC during the campaign, but also encouraged the people to vote according to their consciences.