Tawfiq Akinwale, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Oyo State, alleged on Wednesday that “President-elect” Bola Tinubu urged prominent economist Prof Pat Utomi to step aside for Peter Obi in the run-up to the 2023 general elections.
Akinwale made this discovery while appearing as a guest on 101.7 YES FM in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he said Obi received campaign funding from Utomi, whom he characterized as Tinubu’s “son.”
“In the run-up to the 2023 elections, Obi, who had purchased the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form, suddenly announced his exit from the party,” the LP hopeful claimed in Yoruba.
Pat Utomi had initially received the LP’s presidential ticket, but after Peter Obi announced his candidacy, he resigned from the PDP and joined the LP. Bola Tinubu, a brilliant political strategist, promptly informed Utomi that everyone understands it is his son’s responsibility to step down for Obi.
“The “president-elect” saw in Obi’s presidential bid a good opportunity to reduce the chances of the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, winning.”
What Peter Obi didn’t know is that he began collecting campaign contributions from Utomi while Tinubu was handing the money to Utomi.
“This continued until Obi’s presidential campaign veered off course.” “Obi was used without his knowledge,” Akinwale explained after leaving the gathering.
Obi switched to the LP after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and withdrawing from the party’s presidential nomination.
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As a result, the former governor entered the campaign for the party’s presidential ticket, while Professor Pat Utomi stepped aside in June 2022, allowing him to emerge as the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate unopposed in Asaba, Delta State.