APC taunts Atiku saying new measures put in place will affect his ability to raise campaign funds

NIGERIA'S ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has taunted the main opposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying that its presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will struggle to raise the necessary funds to bankroll his campaign.

Last month, former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, emerged as the PDP's presidential candidate, picking up the ticket at its Port Harcourt Congress. He immediately proceeded to pick ex-Anambra State governor Obi as his running mate and over the last fortnight, both men have been meeting with PDP leaders in Dubai to draw up their electoral strategy.

However, the APC has said that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his party faced serious difficulties raising funds for the campaigns. APC deputy publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, said that due to the stringent measures put in place by the present administration, the PDP is in a dilemma on how to source funds to run the Atiku presidential campaign.

Mr Nabena said: “The presidential candidate expects the party to provide funds for his campaign. However, this is the Buhari era, an era of strict accountability and transparency in the use and application of public funds and not the Jonathan era in 2015 when the national treasury was open to PDP leaders to prosecute the presidential campaign.

“Party leaders are therefore in serious difficulties and dilemma on how to source funds to run the Atiku presidential campaign. Some financiers of the party expect that the candidate, having bought the ticket with millions of dollars, should have the financial capacity to run his campaign and with the candidate’s expectation that it is the party that will fund his campaign, it is now clear that they are at a crossroads and the chickens have come home to roost.”

He advised the nation’s anti-corruption agencies to ensure that all sources of campaign fund by the political parties are closely monitored. While calling for the recovery of the funds looted during the Jonathan era, Mr Nabena said such recovered money should be applied for the benefits of the poor masses who he claimed were denied the benefits of democracy  during the 16 years that the PDP was in power.

According to Mr Nabena, Nigerians have a better alternative by sticking with President Muhammadu Buhari who he claimed has done so much to ensure better future for them. However, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's spokesman, Paul Ibe, dismissed Mr Nabena’s claim.

Mr Ibe said: “Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come. Nothing can stop the zeal of Nigerians to elect the president of their choice.

“This election will not be won by money or lies or propaganda or intimidation but by the supreme will of the Nigerian people as expressed in their vote. Atiku Abubakar will be elected as president by Nigerians in February 2019, notwithstanding the machinations of the APC-led administration.”