Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections, has sought the support of his opposition party’s rivals in order to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in next year’s election.
Atiku stated this on Wednesday after receiving the PDP’s Certificate of Return at Wadata Plaza in Abuja.
The APC, not his co-aspirants in Sunday’s presidential primary, is his main opponent, according to the former Vice-President, whose ambition to become Nigeria’s president began around 30 years ago.
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He urged his rivals to work with him to depose the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari (retd) in 2023.
“A victory for all of us, for our party, and for the vast majority of Nigerians suffering under the APC’s misrule,” Atiku said.
Atiku received 371 votes in the PDP presidential primary on Saturday, defeating Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, who received 237 votes; former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who received 70 votes; Akwa Ibom State Governor Emmanuel Udom, who received 38 votes; Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who received 20 votes; and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, who received 14 votes.
Delegates were surprised when Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, stepped down and directed his supporters to vote for Atiku as a result of what sources said was the intervention of the northern elders, who were pushing for a northern consensus aspirant.
Since the election, Atiku has paid visits to Wike, Saraki, Tambuwal, and other aspirants in Abuja.
“My chairman, my dear friends, while I am excited and happy for this opportunity to bear our party’s flag, let us all remember that what just happened is a competition within a family to decide how to put our best foot forward,” the PDP flag bearer said on Wednesday as he received his Certificate of Return from the party. The main competition is for our Party to win the presidency of our country. It will take the entire PDP family, as well as other supporters and sympathisers. We have to bring everyone together. No one should be left out.
“I’ve already paid visits to some of those who ran against me in an effort to lead the effort to unify the party so that we can face our true opponents, defeat them in the elections, and begin the process of rescuing and rebuilding this country.”
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“Everyone can see the APC’s callous and dangerous misrule over the past seven years.
“However, we must not be complacent in the face of their defeat.” We must band together and work tirelessly for each and every vote cast in this country.”
The APC has set its presidential primary for this weekend, despite a lack of progress in finding a consensus candidate.
