The former Vice President of the country, Atiku Abubakar has yesterday, Saturday, 28th May 2022, emerged as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He will be representing the party in the upcoming 2023 general elections.
In a hotly contested presidential primary held in Abuja, Atiku pulled 371 votes to defeat his fiercest rival, Governor Nyesom Wike, who managed 237 votes. Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki finished in third place with 70 votes. In total, 767 votes were recorded as cast.
Announcing the result after the elections, The Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, David Mark, revealed that the current Akwa-Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel had amassed 38 votes and was closely followed by the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed who snatched 20 votes.
Another former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, who managed 14 votes, was followed by the only female aspirant in the competition, Tariela Oliva as well as Sam Ohuabunwa who both polled one vote each. A total of 12 votes were voided after the counting was completed.
Among the twelve aspirants that participated in the election, four of them received no votes. They are former Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose, Charles Ugwu, Dele Momodu, and Chikwendu Kalu.
In an acceptance speech made after the announcement of his victory, Atiku declared that it was another checkpoint in the effort to consolidate the gains of democracy. He said that they had made history today, one which he and his team believed would bring about a series of fundamental changes in governance and also politics in general.
He called the primaries held that night one of the freest in the party’s history and expressed disappointment with the way he claimed, the ruling APC had demolished the useful gains the PDP party had made in the country. Atiku promised to return Nigeria to its previous position as one of the most prosperous countries in Africa and reverse the mismanagement perpetrated by the APC Government.
