Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has emerged the presidential flag-bearer of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), for the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku was elected by the 763 ad-hoc delegates who voted in the primary election, which was held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, yesterday.
There were a total of 12 void votes.
While former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, had no votes recorded in their names, both Tari Oliver Diana and Sam Ohuabunwa scored one vote each, which means they voted for themselves.
Former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Pius Anyim, polled 14 votes; Udom Emmanuel Gabriel, governor of Akwa Ibom State garnered 38 votes; Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, garnered 20 votes, while former governor of Kwara State and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had 70 votes.
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, polled a total of 237 votes, and came second in the keenly contested primary election.
Atiku garnered a total of 371 to emerge the winner. Immediately his votes surpassed 237 which Wike garnered, his supporters erupted in joy.
He also won the partys ticket to contest the 2019 presidential election which President Muhammadu Buhari won.
Sokoto State governor and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, had earlier stepped down and urged his supporters to vote for Atiku Abubakar.
Wike had also pledged to fully support anyone who emerged as the candidate. But despite his pledge to fully support the winner, Wike didnt come up to the podium when the former aspirants were invited to join the winner to make his acceptance speech.
Atiku Abubakar hails from Adamawa State in the North-East geo-political zone.
This is about the fifth time that Atiku, who is in his late 70s will be involved in a presidential contest.
Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, had earlier pulled out of the race and resigned from the main opposition party. He has since joined the Labour Party.
In his acceptance speech, Atiku thanked the members of the committee that conducted the election led by former Senate President, David Mark, the delegates and the party executives.
He also called for unity and called on his co-contestants to join hands with him in rebuilding the party and ensuring that PDP wins back power in 2023.
