Atiku secures U S’ commitment to security, free, fair polls

North West Party Leaders Pledge To Deliver Zone 

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, said that after a crucial meeting with officials of the United States in Washington, he has secured commitments to support free and fair elections in Nigeria, and an announcement of sanctions before the elections to deter anti-democratic forces among others.

This is as the North West Zone of the party inaugurated the Atiku United Front (AUF), which members pledged to deliver the seven states in the zone to the party in the 2023 general elections.

The meeting in Washington came on the heels of terror alerts from the U.S., following which it closed its Nigerian embassy. 

A statement by Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, made it clear that “the focus of Atiku’s discussions with the U.S. officials were on the critical need to seek collaborative solutions to our local issues on democracy and governance, our deteriorating security and the economy.” 

“The meeting, which focused primarily on enhancing cooperation with the U.S. authorities on Nigeria’s security challenges, elections, and democracy were led by Atiku and Assistant Secretary, States Department, Bureau of African Affairs, Molly Phee,” the statement disclosed. 

Ibe said: “The meeting last night with officials of the States Department could not have come at a better time with the terrorist threat alert by the U.S. UK and Canada, and the withdrawal of its non-essential staff by the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.”

Speaking with Journalists after the inauguration of the AUF, the National Youth leader of the Party, Prince Mohammed Suleiman, said that the North West Zone has the highest votes in the country, pointing out that “in the coming 2023 general elections we shall deliver the zone to our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and we will prove to all Nigerians that we would mobilize and give him the votes. ”

According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) can no longer maintain any grip on the North West Zone because “things have changed since APC won elections in 2015.”