Leaders of the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday lambasted the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government and the Peoples Democratic Party, saying that Nigeria had become worse under PDP's rule.

The opposition leaders spoke in Ilorin, Kwara State, during Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's declaration to contest for second term in office.

The event was witnessed by large turnout of APC members, including a former Head of State and an APC presidential aspirant, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal; a former Vice President and an APC presidential aspirant, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku; Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is also a presidential aspirant; and the party's national leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.

Other attendees included a former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki; Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wammako, his Rivers State counterpart, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; and a member of the APC Board of Trustees, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

The APC leaders took turn to throw jabs at the Jonathan administration, decrying insecurity in the country.

They also blamed the Federal Government for the worsening state of unemployment, poverty and general hardship in the country.

Atiku called on Nigerians to vote out the PDP-led government in 2015, saying the government had not impacted positively on the lives of the citizens and had not addressed national problems.

Tambuwal said by voting in the APC at the federal level, Nigerians would enjoy prosperity and eradication of poverty. He said the country had been misruled.

He said, "By voting APC at the centre you will be voting for prosperity and eradication of poverty. What we are witnessing today in Nigeria is not governance, but mis-governance. We are witnessing a system that does not have the interest of the people of this country at heart.

"It is also incumbent on us as a people to turn out en-masse and vote out Goodluck Ebele Jonathan come 2015. That will bring peace, progress and development to Nigeria."

Tinubu said, "The thieves that daily steal your money have not given you any job; they cannot create jobs and they are starving states of funds to pay workers’ salaries. The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution. APC is a party of the masses.

"I saw the sea of refugees and the lies coming from Jonathan’s administration. They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision and creativity. The lie of yesterday is what they repeat today and it is what they will repeat tomorrow. They are lying to you. They are lying about the security and toying about security of this country. I don't have time to explain the logic of their lies.

"But if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilised country Jonathan should have resigned. But if he will not resign, he should wait for our broom, we will sweep them away."

Kwankwaso said the PDP-led Federal Government was incompetent, adding that APC would significantly address Nigeria's development challenges.

He said, "We are removing the incompetent government in Abuja. By voting for APC, we are bringing in employment for our young men and women; we are voting for peace and development in Kwara and in Nigeria."

Amaechi urged Nigerians to defend their votes and make sure that their votes were not rigged.

He deplored Jonathan's administration, adding that Nigeria was not being governed well.

Amaechi said, "This is the time to say the truth. The problem with the other party is that they do not know the truth and they do not say the truth at all.

"What you must do is to stop PDP from rigging us. You must go out that day to stop them from rigging us. When you vote, do not go home at all. They will bring soldiers and police, remain there. If they want to kill us, let them kill us. If you go home, you will hear a different result. Stay there and make sure that nobody rigs you out."