"I Didn't Lose The Presidential Election" - Atiku

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential candidate, has asserted that, unlike what the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is currently in power, would have Nigerians believe, he did not lose the presidential election held on February 25.

Atiku made this statement on Thursday during a PDP Governors Forum reception and award ceremony held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

PDP governors-elect were present at the event with the theme "Good Governance at the Sub-national level: Issues, Perspectives, Expectations and Outcomes."

He asked party members to have trust in the mission of regaining PDP's "stolen mandate" and to stay committed to it.

Party members must also reflect and assess how the PDP lost its hegemony, in Atiku's opinion.

"We have a number of challenges. We started as a dominant political party in 1999 and since then, we have been receding.

"I think it is time for us to take stock and find out why we are receding and how we can make sure that our eminent position as the leading political party in this country, as the oldest political party in this country, we regain our position.

"I think it is time for us to take stock and find out why we are receding and how we can make sure that our eminent position as the leading political party in this country, as the oldest political party in this country, we regain our position.

"This is a very important challenge which I think requires a whole day seminar for us as a party to ensure that we regain our eminent position in the politics of this country and the whole of Africa," the presidential candidate said.

In accordance with the party platform, he also congratulated all newly elected and reelected governors.

Atiku criticized the event's timing and stated that "next time, this kind of event can be organised earlier in the day to allow us more time so that all the issues, and challenges, facing the party can be discussed."