The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has lashed out at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) over its comments on the 2023 election.

Atiku, a former Vice President, described the EIU report as a merchant purchased by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to confuse the country in an attempt to defend the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

He, however, urged the EIU to respect Nigeria’s democracy and the institution of its judiciary, saying it should be more circumspect before speaking on matters concerning the country.

The PDP presidential candidate said this in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, on Sunday, July 30, 2023.

The statement read: “We have taken a careful study of the report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, and we regret to say that the report is an embarrassment to the think tank body.

“What is also obvious in the report is that it is a merchant purchased by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to confuse the country in an uphill task to defend the sham election of February 25, which only retained the ruling party in office.

READ ALSO: Tribunal: Presidency knocks Atiku over judicial interference claim

“Notwithstanding the preponderance of salient issues raised on the credibility of the so-called election by local and foreign observers, it is disappointing that the EIU would condescend to ballot laundering for the ruling party in the most populous Black country.

“While we wish to express our intention to apply cautious restraint in responding to the EIU on this disgraceful outing, let this be considered as a stern warning to the body to respect Nigeria’s democracy and the institution of our judiciary, and that next time, they should be more circumspect before they jump on any trade by barter jaundiced reports about Nigeria.

“However, to the APC that is going cap in hand begging for legitimacy at all impossible places, we wish to remind them of a popular local proverb that: “he who steals a drum from the palace carries the unenviable burden of where to beat it.”

“A government that goes around to buy anything at sight to award legitimacy unto itself leaves much to the imagination of the people.

“President Tinubu and his team of lawyers had all the opportunity at the court to present his case of legitimacy before the parties closed their cases at the election petition tribunal.

“But rather than explore that opportunity, his lawyers were busy signing counter motions on subpoenas that seek to shed more light on his personal information.

“We therefore consider it a breach of due process anything that is being done outside the walls of the court that seeks to make short circuited testimony about the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.”

The Star