The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected the former the vice president, Mr. Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.
At the presidential primary held in Abuja on Saturday up till the wee hours of Sunday, Atiku polled 371 votes to defeat his main challenger and governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who scored 237 votes.
The former senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki came third with 70 votes, while the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel and his counterpart in Bauchi State, Mr. Bala Mohammed scored 38 and 20 votes apiece.
Besides, a former senate president, Mr. Anyim Pius Anyim got 14 votes while Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa and the only female aspirant, Ms Terila Diana Oliver, got one vote each.
A former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose got zero, while the publisher of Ovation, Mr. Dele Momodu, also got zero votes.
Before the commencement of voting, one of the aspirants and governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal had stepped down from the race and asked his supporters to vote for Atiku.
Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Mr. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen also withdrew from the race.
While Hayatu-Deen withdrew on Friday, Anakwenze announced his withdrawal during his remarks at the venue of the convention yesterday.
Anakwenze, however, urged his supporters to cast their votes for Wike.
In all, the delegates cast 763 votes; 12 votes were voided while the number of valid votes was 751.
In his acceptance speech, Atiku pledged to unite the country, which he said, has been divided by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration.
He described the election as one of the freest and a milestone to bring about democratic changes in Nigeria.
Atiku sought the cooperation of his fellow contestants, promising to give them a sense of belonging in his administration.
In his remarks, the national chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, said the focus of the party is to win the 2023 general election.
Ayu said the victory of PDP in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections and other by-elections was a signal that Nigerians wanted PDP back to power in 2023.
“Our focus is on 2023, but we seek to retake both Osun and Ekiti states in July elections as our low-hanging fruits.
“The electoral triumphs from there will sustain our momentum, boost the morale of party members and amplify our notice to the overwhelmed All Progressives Congress (APC) that PDP is coming. With PDP, Nigeria shall rise again,” Ayu said.
He added that his leadership had worked to unite, rebrand and reposition the party, while also reviving the intellectual arm of the party, the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI).
