The national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, says the people would reject the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s polls having suffered maladministration under President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Ayu said Nigerians are going through hardship under the APC government which plunged the country into “big economic mess” with the high cost of living.

“Nigerians are suffering. The price of a bag of rice is more than the minimum wage of workers,” Mr Ayu said on Sunday. “When PDP was ruling, things were cheap. University students stayed at home for almost a year under the leadership of the APC government.”

Represented by PDP national secretary Samuel Anyanwu at the installation of Eyitayo Jegede, a party cheiftain, as Balogun of the Cathedral Church of Saint David Ijomu in Akure, on Sunday, Mr Ayu asked the people to vote for PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

The party leader said the 2023 presidential election would be a rebirth for Nigeria with Mr Abubakar, if voted into power. 

He explained that the only way out of the hardship is to elect Mr Abubakar whom he claimed would bring development to the people down to the grassroots. 

According to him, “Atiku is the only pan-Nigeria candidate. Others are regional candidates. It is obvious from the performance of the APC-led government that Atiku will win. APC is campaigning for PDP.”

Mr Ayu further said, “APC is dead. Atiku is the most experienced in the country. The ticket of Atiku-Okowa is the best for the country.”

Simeon Borokini, the Bishop of Anglican Diocese Ondo, said Nigerians need Christian leaders that are ready to abide by the truth and face the consequences of their actions for the progress of the nation.

Mr Borokini said the country needs a Christian leader that would perform his responsibility as is expected of him. 

“Those of us that carry the banner of Christ to every sector of the economy should let Christ reflect on our responsibility.

“You should go out to tell the truth and be ready to face the consequences. Because we need men and women who can say the truth all the time,” he explained. 

Mr Borokini congratulated Mr Jegede, noting that he was ordained with the chieftaincy title due to his immense contribution to the development of the church.