Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed optimism that its candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, would clinch victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

This was as the party expressed concern over harsh economic realities in the country, especially hike in petrol pump price, cost of living, and tuition fees.

The spokesperson, Kano Forum of PDP House of Representatives contestants in the 2023 general elections, Ahmed Rufa’i Dangumawa, disclosed this at a press briefing in Kano, yesterday.

He said PDP has confidence that the tribunal will do justice by declaring Atiku winner of the presidential election, even as he urged party faithful to remain calm and law abiding, as they await the verdict.

Dangumawa also backed the nationwide protest by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), noting that the current administration has disappointed Nigerians with bad policies that are threatening living standards and reviving security threats across the country.

He said the Forum is not happy with “the way this country’s economic policies, political and social direction are going; the way the All Progressives Congress (APC) government has been destroying fundamental democratic principles and our beloved resources through worse economic policies.”

He said: “We are not happy with the way wages, incomes, salaries, value of properties and retirement savings are failing while poverty is rising rapidly.

“The Forum regrets that inflation and unemployment are negatively affecting the lives of hapless Nigerians, given the absence of good policies that should create economic opportunity for all.

“We condemn and disagree with the hike in petrol pump price. We condemn and disagree with the monetary and fiscal policies of the APC, especially on foreign exchange matters.

“We condemn and disagree with the way Nigerians are becoming totally poor every minute, including international trade, balance of payment system, foreign direct and portfolio investment system of the APC government. We condemn and disagree with the security situation in the nation. We condemn and disagree with the students’ loan and hike in universities’ tuition fees.”