The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said the foundation of democracy which is press freedom will be upheld if elected president come 2023 general election.
Newsonline reports that Atiku, the former vice president of Nigeria from 1999-2007, said he believed in a free, robust, and unencumbered press which according to him is key to nurturing democracy and development.
Atiku, who spoke this on Thursday in commemoration of the International Day of Democracy said under his watch press freedom which is the foundation of democracy will be guaranteed.
The Waziri of Adamawa wrote on his Twitter handle, “On this International Day of Democracy, I solemnly pledge that under my watch, press freedom, a fundamental foundation of democracy, will be guaranteed. A free, robust and unencumbered press is key to nurturing democracy and development.”
Also, in a statement released on Thursday to newsmen in Abuja, by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Paul Ibe, the PDP flagbearer called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to see it as a duty to Nigerians by conducting free, fair and credible election in the 2023 general election.
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Atiku called on Nigerians to see the 2023 election as one that would determine the leadership and future development of the country.
He said, “In 2023, Nigerians will be voting for the leadership that they truly believe will lead this country out of the current dire situation.
“It is important to use the opportunity of the celebration, this day, to tell not just the INEC, but other agencies and non-governmental organizations involved in the conduct of election, that the next election should be the freest and fairest ever in the history of Nigeria.”
The statement read in part, “Good governance is the ultimate end game.
“And the democracy that we practice is the only veritable vehicle that can drive us safely to the establishment of a government that will give us good governance and ensure that the rule of law is entrenched in our body politics,” Atiku said.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in 162 days, will be hitting the poll along with Peter Obi, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate and Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.
