Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has won the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primary and will challenge incumbent president Muhammudu Buhari in next year’s general election, according to figures obtained from the Port Harcourt venue of the primary.
The aspirants polled as follows according to official results announced by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who chaired the election organizing committee.
Senator Jonah Jang 19
Dr. Datti Ahmed – 5
Dr. Tanimu Turaki – 65
Senator David Mark – 35
Alhaji Sule Lamido – 96
Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa – 48
Senator Ahmed Makarfi – 74
Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso – 158
Senator Bukola Saraki – 317
Governor Aminu Tambuwal – 693.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar – 1532
The former Vive President polled 1,532 votes to defeat 11 other contestants in the primary which ended on Sunday afternoon in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In his acceptance speech, Atiku paid tribute to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and other PDP leaders.
He described the convention as “a landmark event.”
The former vice president commended his fellow contestants “for displaying a sense of unity, a sense of purpose and a sense of commitment.”
“I am ever ready to work with each and every one of them for the realisation of the victory of our party in the forthcoming elections.
“I cannot do it alone,” he said.
In paying tribute to Wike and the government and people of Rivers State, Atiku said: “We look forward to working with you (Rivers governor and people) so that our party can be returned to power in the next election.”
He said he and PDP leaders “cannot afford to fail Nigerians at this very moment.”
In paying tribute to Obasanjo, Atiku said he would not have succeeded as a presidential candidate if “President Olusegun Obasanjo had not made me his vice president.”
“Under his tutelage, I learnt quite a lot,” he said.
“I wish to pay my personal tribute to him.”
Atiku then pledged to the PDP chairman, Uche Secondus, “and members of this party that you will not find me wanting.”