The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Sunday that the sterling performance of Peter Obi, its vice presidential candidate, in Friday’s vice presidential debate held in Abuja had greatly improved the rating of the party in Nigeria and in the international community.
Speaking with Daily Independent, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, also said the commendations given to Obi by majority of those who watched the debate was a pointer to what would play out in the 2019 presidential election which, he said, would signal the end of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to him, the euphoria that greeted Obi’s performance in the debate is similar to what happened in Port Harcourt in October when Atiku Abubakar emerged the presidential flag bearer of the PDP.
“Yes, we believe Peter Obi’s brilliant performance at the debate has positively affected the fortunes of PDP. His victory at that debate has sounded a death knell to the APC and its presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“All over the country, just like the day Atiku emerged as the candidate of the party at the national convention in Port Harcourt, there is so much ecstasy and there is so much acceptance by Nigerians that in Peter Obi, they have found a true vice president that Nigeria needs at this critical time in the life of our nation,” he said.
Also sharing Ologbondiyan’s views, Senator Ighoyota Amori, Political Adviser to the National Chairman of the PDP, said worldwide, many people were now seeing PDP in a different light and they believe it had something beneficial for Nigerians after witnessing Obi’s performance.
“After the vice presidential debate, the profile of the PDP has risen so high because of the brilliant performance of the vice presidential candidate of the PDP.
“Not only in Nigeria but all over the world, a lot of people are praising the PDP as a party that knows its onions and has something good to deliver to Nigerians,” Amori said.
Amori also condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill, saying it was a ploy by the ruling party to rig the 2019 elections.
“We believe that the failure of the president to sign the Electoral Bill into law is preparatory to rigging.
“They are planning to produce another Kano wonder where over three million people voted, no cancellation, no void votes, and no rejected votes,” he said.
