The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, General Mohammadu Buhari, on Saturday appealed to the electorate to ensure that they collect their Permanent Voter Cards to enable them vote during the February 14 presidential election.
Buhari also urged them to stand by their votes guard against rigging.
Buhari stated this during the APC’s presidential campaign held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavillion, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Other leaders at the campaign were the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun; former Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande; former Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Bisi; the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party, Chief Segun Oni; former Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; the Deputy Director General of the Muhammadu Buhari/Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organisation, Senator Olorunibe Mamora; and the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, among others.
Also at the campaign, former governorship candidate of Labour Party in the June 21governorship election in Ekiti State, Hon. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, declared support for the emergence of Buhari and Osinbajo in the election.
In an interview with Bamidele after the ceremony, he said he had not returned formally to the APC.
He said he would leave that until after the elections when all issues must have been resolved.
He said: “We are at thresh hold for change in the country and I want to be part of the change.
“We have issues to manage and we will begin to talk about the details after theFebruary 14 election.
“The issue at hand now is to ensure the election of Buhari/Osinbajo in Ekiti State onFebruary 14.”
Buhari said: “What you would do to help us effect the necessary change is to collect your voter card and vote and stand by your votes.
“Don’t allow rigging or intimidation by anybody.”
Buhari, who arrived into the cheering crowd at 2pm, promised to fight insecurity, unemployment, equip schools and fight corruption.
He also said he would create more jobs through commercial farming.
Osinbajo, while addressing the supporters, said the support being given to the APC across the country is already creating fear in the Peoples Democratic Party, a situation he said is making the party to call for the postponement of the election.
He added: “But we will not allow that and I am sure Ekiti people will not support any postponement of the election.
“They are afraid because their time is up.
“The time for change is now.
“When you vote, stay there and don’t allow any magic this time around.
“You have seen magic before, let there be no magic again.”
Odigie-Oyegun urged the electorate to vote out President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said the PDP government since inception had brought untold hardship to Nigerians through hunger, unemployment, insecurity, corruption and bad leadership.
Oyegun said the APC-led government would keep its promises and ensure good governance in the country.
A national leader of the APC and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said Buhari was coming to on board to rebuild Nigeria “at this critical time of Nigeria’s history”.
Tinubu added: “We are here to change your future for the better and for a more glorious one.”
He said the government of Jonathan had failed the nation by not keeping to its promises of a better Nigeria.
Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, led by a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Patrick Ajigbolamu, defected to the APC.
They were received by the national chairman of the party.
As soon as the crowd sighted the convoy of the APC leaders, the people surged forward to catch a glimpse of Buhari.
The crowd immediately started chanting ‘sai Buhari, sai change’ and other APC slogans.