The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said that the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari as the presumed presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reassured the opposition party of victory in the 2019 forthcoming general elections.

According to a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party noted that Buhari’s fear to contest an elective presidential primary has ruined the APC’s chance of fielding a good presidential candidate.

“Had President Buhari shed his desperation for power and allowed for internal democracy within the APC, particularly when it became clear that Nigerians across board have become averse to his re-election, due to his incompetence and insensitivity to the plight of the citizens, there would have been little hope for the APC.

“In muzzling contest in APC and gleefully emerging a sole candidate, President Buhari has merely won a pyrrhic victory; a General without a troop, with no capacity to face a general election, as the army of stakeholders and the masses that supported him in 2015 have since left him because of his unfulfilled promises and many failures in governance,” the statement said.

It added: “Now that Mr. President has confirmed by his body language that he had no chance in a party he leads, how then can he stand a chance in the general elections, where millions of Nigerians, who are suffering untold hardship because of his misrule are only waiting to deal him a blow with their votes?”

“Owing to Buhari’s incompetence, Nigerians’ purchasing power have become abysmally low, industries have wound up with attendant mass job losses; foreign direct investments have hit all time low, international partners have totally lost confidence in doing business with our compatriots, while the administration had no economic blueprint except borrowing”.

The party maintained that while it was settled that Buhari would be no match to any of its presidential aspirants, adding that all indices point to his imminent defeat as the PDP remains committed to a credible, free, fair and transparent presidential primary where Nigerians will freely participate to choose a president that will lead the country to the path of unity, peace, good governance and economic prosperity.