Our Editor, Abuja
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has won the PDP presidential primary election.
Atiku polled 371 votes to beat his closest rival, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike who got 237 votes.
Other results showed that former president of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki came third with 70 votes; Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State, 38 votes; the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, 20 votes; Senator Pius Anyim, 14 votes; Chief Sam Ohuabunwa, 1 vote; and finally, Oliver Diana, 1vote.
A total of 76 votes were cast in the primary. With 12 votes declared void the total number of valid votes were 751.
Shortly after the counting, the chairman of the convention planning committee, Senator David Mark, declared Atiku Abubakar winner of the PDP presidential primary election and therefore elected as the party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
In his acceptance speech, Atiku pledged to unify Nigeria, calling himself the “unifier.”
He also said the APC-led Government had divided Nigeria, and pledged to restore the unity and economy of the country.
“We will reverse all the mis-governance of APC Government.”
Atiku pledged to work together with his opponents and give them a sense of belonging and appealed to all aggrieved members of the party not to embark in needless litigation actions while pleading with those who had left to return and help in rebuilding the party.
