2015 election loss caused PDP pain and despair

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has recovered from the “pain and despair” of losing the 2015 general election. Speaking on Thursday during its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting since the election, Uche Secondus, acting chairman of the party, said the loss made PDP to “do some soul-searching”. “We have witnessed challenging times after our disappointing loss in the last elections,” he said. “We moved from pain, despair, soul-searching and now by the grace of the Almighty God, we have started the process of rebuilding confidence in ourselves for a brighter future for the party.” Secondus criticised the federal government under the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the country has not made much progress since PDP lost at the centre. “The federal government should come out straight with Nigerians on the state of our economy, which is gradually sliding into recession,” he said. “Jobs are being lost and small businesses are closing shops as a result of the lack of constructive economic engagement from the APC government. “It appears that the lack of an economic direction and remedial actions from the government is having a debilitating effect on the economy.” He accused the government of using security agencies to harass PDP members, calling for fairness. “It would be morally repugnant to target PDP members while seemingly protecting APC members. All we are calling for is an equal and fair treatment of all Nigerians under the law,” he said.