Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has stated that Nigeria needs Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate to help it recover its struggling economy.

Debo Ologunagba (the party's National Publicity Secretary) made this statement at Saturday's interactive session in Abuja.

Ologunagba stated that Nigeria needed Abubakar due to his practical experience, capacity, and broad-mindedness. He also had the willpower to unify the nation, rebuild the economy and ensure the safety of people and property.

According to him, the results of party consultations in six geo-political areas of Nigeria showed that Nigerians accepted Abubakar as their best candidate, regardless of religion or ethnicity.

“Abubakar as Vice President to President Olusegun Obasanjo was the Chairman of the National Economic Council.

“During that period, our nation achieved unprecedented national productivity, we also secured $30 billion 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 stable exchange rate.

“Our foreign reserves rose from $2bn in 1999 to $43bn in 2007, while power generation also rose from average daily generation capacity of 1,800mw in 1999 to 4,000 mw in 2007.”

Ologunagba added that under Abubakar as chairman of the economic council, Nigeria witnessed the liberalization of the telecommunication industry and the advent of GSM and Internet facilities in Nigeria.

He added that the 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.

“Owing to the conducive economic environment, there was increase in Foreign Direct Investment and more Nigerians in the Diaspora returned to establish businesses in the country.

“There was also expanded and consolidated 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 per cent.”

He added that under Abubakar’s led-economy, the nation also achieved a consolidated Pension System both in the private and public sectors.

“Under Abubakar as coordinator of the economy, Nigeria achieved economic rebound after military rule. Today Nigeria and Nigerians need Atiku Abubakar to achieve a rebound,” he said.

Ologunagba said that the party and its candidates, Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa, were prepared for an issue-based campaign that would be flagged off on Monday in Uyo, the capital of Akwa-Ibom.

“The PDP will take our campaign 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) of our party.

“Our campaign will be people-driven and focused on PDP and Abubakar’s mission to rescue, rebuild and redirect our nation.”

Speaking on the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination for the 2023 general elections, Ologunagba said that based on a recent Federal High Court judgment, the ruling party had no legally valid candidate for the elections.

“As you are aware, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, nullified the candidature of Gov. Gboyega Oyetola in the July 16 2022 Osun State Governorship election on the ground that his nomination was invalid.

“This is having been conducted and submitted by Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, in violation of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

Ologunagba said that for emphasis, Section 183 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) provides that a state governor “shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever”.

Ologunagba said that the judgment reaffirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of Jegede vs INEC that a violation of any provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), particularly as it relates to Section 183, portends grave consequences.

“The import of the Sept. 30 judgment of the Federal High Court is that every decision made by Governor Mai Mala Buni as Chairman of the APC is null and void as you cannot place something on nothing and expect it to stand.

“Consequently, the Congresses as well as the National Convention which produced APC Excos including the Sen. Adamu Abdullahi-led NWC is void

“In effect, the primaries and Presidential Convention conducted by the Sen. Adamu Abdullahi-led NWC, including the nomination of Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu as Presidential Candidate of the APC is invalid, null and void ab-initio.”

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