Atiku Emerges PDP’s Presidential Contender for 2023

Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President, has been re-nominated as the People’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate (PDP).
 
In a hotly contested presidential primary poll conducted at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday, Mr. Abubakar defeated 12 other contenders.
 
He received 371 votes out of over 763 total votes cast, with his closest challenger, Governor of River State Nyesom Wike, coming in third with 237 votes.
 
Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s former Senate President, came in third with 70 votes, while Bala Muhammed, the Governor of Bauchi, came in fourth with 20 votes.
 
Atiku’s triumph at the Abuja stadium Velodrome was not only his second in a row, but also his fifth attempt at the presidency. He had tried to get the seat before with both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his current party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but had been unsuccessful.
 
In 2019, the Adamawa-born politician was also elected on the PDP ticket, but lost to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC in the general elections.

The former vice president will meet the winner of the APC’s upcoming presidential primary again.
 
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, a prominent contender for the ticket, withdrew from the contest before the poll began, urging his followers to vote for Atiku.
 
According to some political commentators, Mr Tambuwal’s withdrawal from the campaign tipped the election in favor of the former vice president.
 

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Before the 2019 election, the Sokoto government ran for the ticket. They campaigned hard and were seen as one of the top candidates.
 
According to party insiders, he snatched votes from the North-West geopolitical zone, which had the most delegates nationwide.
 
He would have split the votes in the north if he hadn’t withdrawn, potentially allowing Mr. Wike to win the ticket.

Recall that early on, Aminu Tambuwal was withdrawn from the race for Atiku.

While celebrating and appreciating his supporters, Atiku Abubakar took to his social media and said;

“Today, the battle to rebuild and unite our great country moves forward. I’m honoured to be named the @OfficialPDPNig candidate. I look forward to speaking with Nigerians across the country, taking the message of hope and unity as we build one future for one people.”

Today, the battle to rebuild and unite our great country moves forward. I’m honoured to be named the @OfficialPDPNig candidate. I look forward to speaking with Nigerians across the country, taking the message of hope and unity as we build one future for one people.-AA #OneNigeria pic.twitter.com/6HdbwUOde0

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) May 28, 2022

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