Atiku Abubakar. |
The
Economist Intelligence Unit, EIU Africa said the margin of victory is getting
narrower as the election approaches, but Atiku and his political party will win
the historic election.
“Abubakar
is hard-pressed to convince voters that he is a clean politician, having been
on the receiving end of numerous graft allegations in the past.
“We
retain out forecast for #Abubakar to
win, but expected margin of victory is narrowing as the poll approaches.”
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In
2015, the magazine also predicted victory for Muhammadu Buhari over
then-incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, stating that Buhari was “the least awful
choice,” which would be chosen “with a heavy heart”.
“Voters
have ample cause to send Mr Jonathan packing. In a country where power has
often changed through the barrel of a gun, the opposition All Progressives
Congress has a real chance of winning through the ballot box,” The Economist
said in 2015.
The
research unit of London-based The Economist Magazine had said in 2018 that the
PDP will win the 2019 election.
“Abubakar’s
pledge is to reinvigorate the economy with pro-market reforms. Both candidates
are from the northern Nigeria, where Buhari’s support base lies, presaging a
fierce contest there,” EIU had said.
“With
the vote likely to be split in the North, Abubakar will find it easier to
garner support from the country’s south, which has traditionally been a safe
haven for the PDP.
“This
gives Abubakar an edge, as does popular frustration over the rise in
joblessness and poverty (two of the biggest voter concerns) on Mr. Buhari’s
watch, as well as growing insecurity in central Nigeria.”
Lai
Mohammed, minister for information and culture, had said The Economist’s
prediction was nothing but fake news.
“We
have all read that the intelligence unit of The Economist said the PDP will
defeat the ruling APC in 2019,” he had said.
“We
have also read that the international financial institution HSBC said Nigeria’s
economic development will be stunted if President Buhari gets a second term.
“Let
me state clearly that these reports are based on fake premises and, therefore,
qualify as fake news. It is a psychological warfare by those who have been
badly hit by our policies.”
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