PDP: APC feverish over Atiku’s acceptance in Buhari’s stronghold

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is “feverish” over the endorsement of Atiku Abubakar, its presidential candidate, by various socio-cultural groups.

On Sunday, five socio-cultural organisations in the country namely the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere and Middle Belt Forum (MBF) adopted Atiku as their consensus candidate.

The groups said Atiku has shown he will restructure the country if given the mandate.

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, in reaction, said the endorsement was engineered and carried out by PDP members and sympathisers.

Festus Keyamo, the council spokesman, had said “there is no fraud bigger than that of known PDP members and/or hardened PDP sympathizers wearing the apparel of socio-cultural groups”.

However, addressing a press conference in Abuja, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP presidential campaign spokesman, said coming on the heels of The Economist’s prediction that Atiku will win, the endorsement attests to his (Atiku’s) widespread support.

“Today, the APC and the Buhari Presidency have become uncontrollably feverish over the overwhelming acceptance gained by Atiku Abubakar in all the geo-political zones, particularly in the north-west states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna and Jigawa states, hitherto considered as President Buhari’s political stronghold,” he said.

“Having lost genuine followership in the North West, the north-central, the north-east and a greater part of the south-west, all of which gave them a ride to victory in 2015, and having no prospects in the south-east and south-south, the APC and the Buhari presidency are now seeking ways to derail our electoral process.”

He said Nigerians have shown their determination to vote out Buhari from office “due to his incompetence, divisiveness, executive high-handedness and corruption”.

“We therefore urge President Buhari to avail his mind to accept his imminent defeat when it eventually comes on February 16,” he added.