By Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors have challenged other political parties to emulate the political tolerance of the ruling party to build a formidable democratic system and new political culture for the country.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Abubakar Bagudu, stated this in a congratulatory message in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 60th Independence anniversary.

The forum noted under President Muhammadu Buhari APC- led administration, politics has been refined with a changed political culture, especially in relations to electoral contests.

“Under the leadership of President Buhari, our politics is today being refined to ensure indiscriminate development of all parts of the country.

“In addition, the President is inspiring all of us in APC to change our political culture especially in relations to electoral contests. Unlike what obtains in other parties where the operative culture is to manipulate electoral contests to produce set outcomes, the environment in our party, APC, is being made more liberal.

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“With such a liberal atmosphere, combined with impartiality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as a governing party, our electoral probability, in all elections, is even.

“We win or lose elections depending on our ability to convince electorate to vote for our party and our candidates. And when we lose in a fair contest, we concede defeat and congratulate the winner.

“This is the next level politics already in play, championed by APC. We appeal to all politicians and parties to embrace this new political culture in Nigeria.”

The governors further commended the democratic accomplishments recorded in Nigeria since Independence and restated commitment to make all states governed by the party as models of good governance with records of rapid human development and progress.

Assuring Nigerians of their commitment, the Governors pledged: “We shall continue to take all the necessary steps to roll out programmes in our states that will facilitate development of synergy, experience sharing and collaboration.

“We felicitate with all Nigerians and reiterate our commitment to the democratic development of Nigeria, while putting in place programmes to improve the welfare and living conditions of all Nigerians. This is the basis of our programmes for massive infrastructural projects both at Federal levels and all our states.

“We congratulate all Nigerians on this 60th Independence Anniversary and pray for many more years of democratic development!”