•I await keen contest between us -Tinubu
Former Vice President and an aspirant towards 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, May 28, 2022, came top in primary election, emerging as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.
This was after he polled 371 votes, leading in the race which had Rivers States Governor, Nyesom Wike; former governor of Kwara State and senate president, Bukola Saraki and other as co-aspirants.
Since leaving office in 2007, Atiku, who had always had the ambition of becoming a Nigerian president, just had victory at his fifth trial in presidential primaries.
His closest co-contestant, Governor Wike, had 237 votes, while Saraki had 70.
Other aspirants at the primary which took place at Moshood Abiola Stadium in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were Akwa-Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, who polled 38 votes; his Bauchi counterpart, Bala Muhammed, who got 20 votes; Anyim Pius Anyim, 14 votes and Oliver who got one vote, while 12 were void.
Shortly before the voting started, the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, stepped down for Atiku, a move that strengthened the Adamawa politician’s bid for the ticket.
•PDP presidential primary result at a glance
-Atiku 371
-Wike 237
-Saraki 70
-Udom 38
-Bala 20
-Ayim 14
-Oliver 1
-Void 12
Meanwhile, the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Atiku for emerging as the flag bearer of the PDP, welcoming the former Vice President to the presidential contest.
Tinubu, who commended Atiku for his patriotism and commitment to Nigeria’s progress, also congratulated other contestants for the orderly and peaceful way they conducted themselves and for pledging to rally round the winner, in the true spirit of democratic sportsmanship.
Tinubu, in a statement issued by the Director, Media & Communication
Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, said that he expected the former Vice-president, who was also the 2019 presidential candidate of the PDP, to be his worthy opponent in the coming 2023 president election, with the belief that he would win his party’s upcoming presidential primary election.
The APC national leader said that Atiku’s victory didn’t come as a surprise to Nigerians because of his vast experience as a statesman and veteran of many presidential contests from 1993.
“While welcoming the PDP candidate to the race, Tinubu added that the coming election should be about issues that will improve the quality of life of Nigerians; bring peace, progress, political stability and solve myriad of sociopolitical challenges and insecurity currently facing the country,” the statement read.
Tinubu added: “I welcome the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded primary. I look forward to squaring up with him as a worthy opponent in the coming election. I have known the former Vice President as a formidable politician and a patriot who believes in the unity and progress of our dear country.
“ As we move further into the election season, I charge the PDP presidential candidate and all political actors across Party lines that we should make this election season one that is devoid of bitterness, rancour and strife.
“We should make our campaigns peaceful and issue based. Election season should be a festival of ideas that will uplift our country and improve the living condition of all our people.
“Unfortunately for the PDP, its candidate will be burdened to explain why Nigerians should give it another opportunity, after squandering 16 years at the central government, without much to show.”
“Nigerians are yet to forget the national ruin and mismanagement of our country for 16 years by successive PDP administrations, and this bad memory will dog the campaign of the PDP candidate.
“ Nevertheless, I once again congratulate our former Vice President for his victory in his party’s primary.”
