2023 Presidential Elections: Atiku wins PDP Primaries
Atiku Abubakar, former vice president of Nigeria and top presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected as the party’s flag bearer for 2023 presidential elections on Saturday 28 May, 2022.
One of the presidential aspirants, Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state had withdrawn from the presidential race before the commencement of voting and requested that his supporters vote for Atiku. He said he resolved to withdraw from the contest for posterity after consulting widely across the country.
Tambuwal also congratulated Atiku on his victory at the PDP primaries.
Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress APC and Top presidential aspirant has congratulated Atiku on his Victory and welcomed him to the 2023 presidential contest.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in a result announced by Sen. David Mark, the PDP chief returning officer and former senate president of Nigeria, Atiku defeated the other aspirants with 371 votes, Former governor of Rivers state Nyesom Wike got 237 votes, Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki got 70 votes, while Akwa ibom state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel and his Bauchi state counterpart, Sen. Bala Mohammed got 38 and 20 votes, respectively.
763 votes were casted by the delegates, 751 votes were valid while the remaining 12 votes were empty.
Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim got 14 votes, Sam Ohunabunwa got only one vote. Former governor of Ekiti state Ayo Fayose and Dele Momodu both got Zero.
In Atiku’s approval speech, he pledges to unite Nigeria which he claimed has been divided by the APC led government,
He said, “Today, we are making another history which we believe will bring important changes in the country, both by providing enough security and reviving the economy.”
He depicted the election as one of the freest and a milestone to bring about democratic changes in Nigeria.
Atiku solicited for the cooperation of his fellow aspirants promising to give them a sense of belonging in his administration.
He promised to deal with insecurity positively and revive the economy.
Atiku also pleaded with all afflicted members of the party to return to the party, adding that the internal conflict resolutions would be reactivated to address and resolve all issues.
Atiku contested the Social Democratic Party presidential primary, losing to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe in 1993.
In the 2007 presidential election, he was a presidential candidate of the Action Congress, taking third place after Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP and Muhammadu Buhari of the ANPP.
He contested the presidential primary of the PDP during the 2011 presidential election losing out to former president Goodluck Jonathan.
In 2014, he became a member of the APC ahead of the 2015 presidential election and contested the presidential primary but lost to Muhammadu Buhari
In 2017, he returned to the PDP and was the party’s presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election, but lost again to incumbent President Buhari.