Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said that he has the assurance of President Muhammadu Buhari that the 2023 general election will be free and fair. 

Mr Atiku told Financial Times in an article published on Monday that he had a sit down with Mr Buhari where he was assured that the outgoing president intends to leave a legacy of credible elections. 

“I’ve gotten a commitment from the president personally, because I sat down with him twice, that even if it is the only legacy he will leave, he will make sure he conducts free, fair and credible polls,” Mr Atiku said. 

Mr Atiku added that he is confident about the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct an election void of manipulation, owing to the recent reforms and technological improvement in the electronic transmission of result that the agency has deployed in the last gubernatorial elections. 

Despite fierce defence from Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress and strong contest by third-force Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Mr Atiku’s associates continue to boast of a clear path to victory, citing his popularity in the northern part of the country and dependable allies in the south.

According to them, the former vice president’s neo-liberal leaning makes him the most qualified to govern the country due to the feasibility of his proposals.