Atiku Emerges as PDP 2023 Presidential Candidate, Defeats Wike, Saraki

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has been declared winner of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, primary election at the ongoing National Convention at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

Atiku polled 371 votes in the presidential primary election, to beat Wike who polled 237 votes. Former Senate president, Bukola Saraki came distance 3rd with 70 votes.

Atiku was pronounced winner by the chairman of the primary election committee, David Mark.

Atiku’s emergence as the main opposition party’s flag bearer for the 2023 presidential election is coming after Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal withdrew from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential race and urged all his supporters and delegates to vote for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

He decided to step down from presidential race after consultations with his associates.

“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.

Tambuwal becomes the second presidential aspirant of the PDP to step down from the race. Earlier in the day, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen had withdrawn from the poll, describing the process as “obscenely monetised”.

“It is therefore based on personal principles and with great humility that I have decided after wide consultations to withdraw from this contest which has been obscenely monetized,” he said in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He, however, pledged to work for the party ahead of the general elections.

While the former managing director of the now-defunct FSB International Bank did not state he was supporting another aspirant, the Adamawa State governor Ahmadu Fintiri said Hayatu-Deen stepped down for Atiku.

“Hayatu-Deen has stepped down for him (Atiku),” Mr Fintiri told Channels Television on the sidelines of the party’s convention. “I think he has stepped down for him. He has instructed his delegates to vote for Atiku.”