Nigerians on social media on Friday knocked the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his claim that 90 per cent of northerners are not on social media.

Atiku, who is Nigeria’s former Vice President, while responding to a question in an exclusive interview with Arise TV on Friday morning, played down the possibility of Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, causing an upset to his presidential ambition during the next year’s elections.

Asked about the potential threat of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to his presidential ambition in the 2023 elections, Atiku clarified that social media presence and acceptability won’t win him (Obi) election.

He noted that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

He said, “Peter Obi is not a threat. I really don’t expect the Labour Party to take as many votes from the PDP as people are suggesting. We could have seen it in the last election in Osun State. What was the performance of the Labour Party?

“They again, they (Obi’s supporters) are talking about social media. Mind you, in the north, 90 per cent of our people (who will be voting) are not on social media,” Atiku said.

But reacting to Atiku’s claim, Nigerians on the microblogging site, Twitter, knocked the former vice president for his comment, alleging that such a claim showed that the Northern elites were deliberate about keeping the region underdeveloped.

See reaction:

@YDBaba_AhmedI, wrote, “Now you know why they have made the north so poor so as to use them during election, Atiku Abubakar just indirectly said that 90% of Northerners are living in abject poverty… My Northern people, we must change this narrative.

@imokodavid said, “Atiku said on Arise News that 90% of Northerners are not on social media but he rushed to delete the Deborah post he made on social media so as to please the Northerners that are not on social media. Kontinu>

@NigeriaRenew wrote, “Atiku: 90% of northerners are not on social media. This is why they keep my people poor & uneducated. The northern elites have weaponised poverty & illiteracy over the years & I say Enough is Enough. Truth be said, The North needs Peter Obi more than any other part of Nigeria

@Chude_ also said, “Atiku, in an attempt to denigrate labour party & OBidients boldly told d world on national TV that 90% of Northerners don’t have access to internet.

“Northerners Complain & fight stereotype on this app every day only for Atiku, in an attempt to denigrate labour party & OBidients boldly told d world on national TV that 90% of Northerners don’t have access to the internet. This Man wants people to remain poor for his political gains. @Atiku Obviously banking of the poverty and illiteracy in northern Nigeria to remain relevant in politics

@UgwuOkoro wrote, “90% of Northerners don’t know anything about Social media..Atiku on Arise news.
He is proud that he and other Northern leaders have underdeveloped the North.”