Former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that he has over 11 million ready votes to hoist the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), onto victory in next years election if he emerges as its presidential candidate in Mays primary.
The PDP presidential hopeful also called on the party leadership to grant him the right of first refusal for the 2023 ticket.
Atiku said this to the PDP National Working Committee, (NWC), at the National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza,
when he formally acquaint the leadership with his decision to contest for the presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 elections.
Making a case for his candidacy, the presidential aspirant said he already had 11 million sure votes to grant PDP the victory next year and, therefore, should be handed the ticket.
Atiku, who urged the NWC to ensure the emergence of only the best candidate promised to work for the devolution of powers to the states and unify the country if given the opportunity.
According to him: Mr. Chairman and members of the NWC, Im really not here to lecture you; Im just really here to inform you of my decision to run again, and also to urge you to provide the right kind of leadership so that the best candidate can emerge.
And I dare say Mr. Chairman, I am the best candidate. Under normal circumstances Mr. Chairman, this is a guy who already has 11 million votes in his kitty. And I think, as a party, you should give me the ‘right of first refusal’, but we are in a democracy”.
All that I can urge you to do is to make sure that the way you have started, you also conclude the way you have started, by being very fair and credible, giving every contestant the opportunity to face the electorate, he stated.
The Wazirin Adamawa added that when given the mandate to run, he would not be a ‘Muhammadu Buhari type of President’.
