The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned claims of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar of playing ethnic and tribal politics.
The party accused APC of deliberately distorting and misinterpreting Atiku’s comment in Kaduna in order to tarnish his image.
It was reported over the weekend that Atiku, during a meeting in Kaduna had said; ‘’what the average Northerner needs is somebody who’s from the North and also understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country.’’
“This is what the Northerner needs. It doesn’t need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of Northern origin.’’
This comment has caused a lot of controversy over the weekend as Nigerians had faulted the PDP Presidential candidate for the statement.
The APC in its reaction to the statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Sunday said; “It is beyond the pale for a senior citizen and a former Vice-President of the Federal Republic to so brazenly instigate strife and disunity in our country in pursuit of his befuddled political self-interest.’’
“But it is not surprising coming from a desperate and serial failed candidate for the office of President. If, as Atiku believes the average Northerner needs a Northern President now, after a Northern President, when will they ever not need a Northern President?
“What does Atiku think the average Southerner needs? Why is it about what the average Northerner needs, or even what the average Southerner may need? Why is it not about what Nigeria and Nigerians need? Nigerians need bold and visionary leadership anchored on a firm commitment to transcendental national unity, over and above ethnic or sectional obsessions.’’
“Atiku’s words ring loud of extreme and mindless desperation and such an extremely desperate man cannot and must not be entrusted with the most important job of President – a job whose core duty is that of leading, uniting and working in the best interest of all in an ethnoreligious, pluralistic society as Nigeria. Our country does not need this kind of highly inflammable rhetoric now or ever.’’
‘’The cat has finally been let out of the bag of him that pays lip service to unity while working hard to undermine our national unity. Our Northern citizens and patriots know far better than what Atiku thinks, and will not walk down that slippery slope with him.’’  
Reacting to the statement by APC, the PDP’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement said; “For clarity and avoidance of doubt Atiku Abubakar remains a Pan-Nigerian leader; a symbol of national unity, cohesion and tolerance who is comfortable and loved in all parts of the country.’’
“He had never and will never set any part of our country against the other as being mischievously hyped by the APC. To set the record straight, the PDP Presidential Candidate, in responding within the context of the question put to him at the event noted that he had built bridges across the country and that what Nigerians, including an average northerner need, was a Pan-Nigerian leader and not an ethnic champion.’’
“We know that the APC is jittery over the overwhelming popularity of Atiku Abubakar across the nation because of his focus on issues that will improve the lives of Nigerians and as such the APC is desperate to smear his Pan-Nigerian standing.”
PDP further noted that Nigeria is more divided under the APC-led administration.