"We will build formidable opposition" – PPC presidential candidate

Mr Victor Okhai, the presidential candidate of the Providence Peoples Congress (PPC) has said that the party is planning to become a formidable opposition in the country, ahead of future elections.

Okhai said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos, while reacting to the outcome of the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had earlier, on Wednesday, declared President Buhari as the winner of the election.

Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 15,191, 847 votes to defeat his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 11,255, 978.

Buhari won in 19 states while his greatest opponent, Abubakar won in 17 states.

Okhai said “It is not over yet! We will have to see how things unfold in the coming days and the reactions of Nigerians and the international community after receiving the reports of the foreign and local observers.

“As a party, we have resolved to focus on the journey ahead. Building the party and becoming a formidable opposition until the next elections is top on our priority right now.

“We also want to ensure victory for our candidates in the coming elections if there is a level playing field.

Okhai said that the final figures attributed to the ruling party for the presidential election did not reflect the mood of the nation with all the poverty and killings over the past four years.

“Winning fair and square is alright and I personally have nothing against it as it would have been the choice of the people.

“But where figures have been manipulated, voters and electoral officials have been either induced or intimidated, it takes away any form of credibility from the final outcome.

“The judiciary which should have been the hope of the common man, I’m afraid has also been tainted with the controversy surrounding the removal of the CJN.

“The opposition cannot approach the tribunals with full confidence expecting justice, ” he said. (NAN)