The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party said on Thursday it hopes former military Head of State and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari, would conduct a campaign that is issue based and devoid of ethno-religious sentiments.
The PDP, which said it welcomed the emergence of Buhari as the presidential flag bearer of the APC in the 2015 general elections, noted that the former Head of State had failed, on three occasions in the past, to articulate a vision of the future that was acceptable to Nigerians.
The PDP said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh.
The party recalled that this will be the fourth time Buhari will be contesting the presidential elections.
The PDP statement said: “On each of the three previous occasions, he (Buhari) failed to articulate a vision of the future that was acceptable to Nigerians.
“On each occasion, his brand of politics was rejected across Nigeria.
“Apart from changing to a dinner suit, General Buhari, has not changed the tired ideas and provocative utterances that Nigerians rejected in previous elections.”
The PDP expressed the hope that this time round, Buhari would conduct a campaign that is issue based and devoid of ethno-religious sentiments
The statement added: “We are convinced that the Peoples Democratic Party remains the only truly national political party in Nigeria, a platform on which all Nigerians can pursue their legitimate aspirations.
“We also believe that despite the distractions, President Goodluck Jonathan has a genuine record of accomplishments on which to run and deserves a second term.
“President Jonathan’s re-election will guarantee unity and stability for Nigerians. His second term will also deliver prosperity to Nigerians.”
While quoting President Jonathan in his acceptance speech, Metuh said: “The choice before Nigerians in the coming election is simple: a choice between going forward or going backwards; between the new ways and the old ways; between freedom and repression; between a record of visible achievements and beneficial reforms – and desperate power-seekers with empty promises.”