Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was on Sunday morning declared the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the 2023 general election after defeating other aspirants in Abuja.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that Atiku clinched the much coveted ticket during the presidential primary of the main opposition party which began on Saturday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He polled a total of 371 votes to defeat his closest rival, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who garnered 237 votes. He was followed by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who polled 70 votes in the exercise.
Details of the votes scored by the aspirants are as follows:
Read Also: Leave My Integrity Out Of PDP Move – Peter Obi To Wike
Atiku Abubakar – 371
Nyesom Wike- 237
Bukola Saraki – 70
Udom Emmanuel – 38
Bala Mohammed – 20
Pius Anyim – 14
Sam Ohabunwa – 1
Olivia Tariela – 1
There were 12 void votes
Africa Daily News, New York gathered that before voting commenced on Saturday at the primary election in Abuja, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal had stepped down for Atiku, a move that strengthened the Adamawa politician’s bid for the ticket.
He made the move on Saturday during the 2022 PDP National Convention holding at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, saying it was after consultations.
‘I have come to the conclusion – to the glory of God Almighty, seeing millions of Nigerians suffering and the need for us to close ranks in the party and as one of the leaders in this party – I have come to a patriotic conclusion to step down my aspiration,” the former Speaker of the House of Representatives told the gathering.
‘And not only that, I have appealed to my supporters to take this in good strides and for national unity and patriotism – not only that, those who are delegates here – should vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.’
Atiku would now fly the party’s flag in next year’s general elections.
