By Dirisu Yakubu
ABUJA- As collation of votes cast across the nation continues on Sunday, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has said that with results collated so far, he is confident of victory.
Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his wife voting
The former Vice President stated this Sunday morning in a statement by his campaign spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu
“With strong shares of vote in the South- South, South- East as well as an increased share in the South-West and North-Central, we are very pleased with the progress the PDP has made. We look forward to sharing some exciting news in other parts of the country very soon, which will confound all the armchair pundits,” Shaibu said.
The statement said with the PDP’s high tech, cloud-based SVC system – which is capable of collating in real-time the results from the 176,000 voting points across the nation, the Presidential candidate could boldly assure his supporters that victory was at hand.
“The people of Nigeria can take solace that very soon the living nightmare of the last four years will come to an end so that together we will get Nigeria working again,” the statement read in part.
Atiku called on Nigerians, particularly his supporters to remain vigilant and guard against moves to allegedly manipulate the process.
The statement continued: “I am familiar with how brazen and the complete lack of shame the All Progressives Congress, APC, can exhibit, but I was shocked to witness just how low they went last night by accusing the PDP of ‘recruiting armed thugs’ to do just that. Why would we want to do that when we are winning?
“Furthermore I would like to say how proud I was of PDP supporters who conducted themselves so peacefully despite the significant provocations and threats of violence, removal and burning of ballot boxes and the likes.”
The statement also thanked the security forces and election officials who in the main conducted their duties with exemplary professionalism.
He however reminded the President to keep his promise of free and fair elections.
“General Buhari, you have promised our people and the world that you would conduct ‘free, fair and credible elections.’ Please, call off the wilder elements within your party and deliver on your promise,” the statement further stressed.