The People’s Democratic Party will today, Monday, October 10, 2022, officially flag its presidential campaign for the 2023 Presidential election in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State Capital, Southern Nigeria.
The party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Vice Presidential Candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and hundreds of supporters from outside the state are already in Uyo for the historic event.
The city is awash with the PDP’s red, white, and green colors, while billboards and posters with the candidates’ pictures adorn streets and spaces.
National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Debo Ologunagba, addressing a news conference, said the Presidential Candidate, and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa are fully “Articulated” issue-based campaign as they take the message to all the States, Local Government Areas, Wards, and Polling Units across the country under the Unified Campaign Structure as approved by the National Executive Committee, NEC, the Party.
Ologunagba said the Campaign would be people-driven and focused on PDP and Atiku Abubakar’s mission to Rescue, Rebuild, and Redirect the nation from the All Progressives Congress, APC,
“From our consultations across the six geo-political zones of the country, Nigerians across the board, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, and even political affiliations accept the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar as the best Candidate with the practical experience, capacity, broad-mindedness, and willpower to Unite our nation, revamp our national economy, and guarantee the security of lives and property in our country,” he added.
Ologunagba listed reasons Nigerians want Atiku Abubakar as president, including his helping to turn around Nigeria’s economy as Vice President to President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chairman of the National Economic Council.
“During that period, our nation achieved unprecedented national productivity, secured $30bn overall debt relief from the Paris and London Clubs, Nigeria’s economy was revamped to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a stable exchange rate, foreign reserves rose from $2bn in 1999 to $43bn in 2007.
“Power generation rose from an average daily generation capacity of 1,800mw in 1999 to 4,000 MW in 2007.
“Our country witnessed the liberalisation of the telecommunication industry and GSM and Internet facilities in Nigeria; our country also witnessed a boost in private Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises in Nigeria.
“More Nigerians opened investments in sectors hitherto controlled by foreigners including in the downstream and upstream petroleum sectors.”
He explained that “Owing to the conducive economic environment, there was an increase in Foreign Direct Investment and more Nigerians in the Diaspora returned to establish businesses in the country, expanded and consolidated the Nigerian banking industry to make it operate and participate effectively in global banking businesses.
“Nigeria achieved one of the most profitable Stock Markets in the world with an average Return on Investment of over 31%. Our nation also achieved a consolidated Pension. The system is both in the private and public sectors.
“(The APC has been seeking to siphon money from that Fund); under Atiku Abubakar as coordinator of the economy, Nigeria achieved an economic rebound after military rule. Today Nigeria and Nigerians need Atiku Abubakar to achieve a rebound after the misrule of the APC.”
On APC Campaign:
Taking a swipe at the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Ologunagba, said the party is handicapped and incapacitated to campaign as it has no legally valid candidate for the 2023 general elections.
“Recall that the PDP had on February 22, 2022, and March 8, 2022 cautioned that with its foisting of an illegal and unconstitutional leadership, the APC has become legally defunct, structurally crippled, and no longer a legitimate and valid vehicle to field candidates for elections under our laws.
“The PDP had cautioned all aspirants in the APC then not to waste their resources, time, and energy in the APC as they will be on a journey to nowhere.”
Ologunagba cited the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, September 30, 2022, which nullified the candidature of Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s participation in July 16, 2022, Osun State Governorship election in southwest Nigeria because his nomination was invalid, having been conducted and submitted by Governor. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, in violation of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
He stated that “the import of the September 30, 2022 judgment of the Federal High Court is that every decision made by Governor Mai Mala Buni as Chairman of the APC is void as you cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand.
“The Congresses and the National Convention which produced APC Excos, including Senator Adamu Abdullahi-led NWC, are void.
“In effect, the primaries and Presidential Convention conducted by Senator Adamu Abdullahi-led NWC, including the nomination of Senator. Ahmed Bola Tinubu as a Presidential Candidate of the APC is invalid, null, and void ab-initio.”
