ATIKU CONQUERS WIKE AND OTHERS, BECOMES THE PDP FLAG-BEARER FOR THE 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
By Eva Chisom Chukwunelo
After unsuccessfully contesting for the office of the President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president, has won the presidential ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 general elections at 74.
The primary election which was held at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday May 29th 2022 ended with Atiku gaining victory after polling a total of 371 votes while Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State trailed behind with 237 votes, and former senate president Bukola Saraki got 70 votes.
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, and Bala Mohammed got 38 and 20 votes correspondingly, Anyim Pius Anyim, former secretary to the governor of the federation garnered 14 votes, while Oliver Diana and Samuel Ohuabumwa obtained one vote each , 2 disqualified, with 12 invalid votes recorded, and another opted out of the presidential race .
In his acceptance speech, the flag-bearer of the party referred to himself as a Unifier and accused the incumbent party of disuniting Nigerians completely, pledging to restore peace to the country, fight insecurity and confront its economic challenges.
He promises to bring essential changes to Nigeria and promote an inclusive government, if he wins the 2023 presidential election.
This can be seen in his words: “I also pledge to face the challenges to unify this country. I also pledge to change the economy which was all caused by the APC government. The PDP government created one of the best economies in the country. The APC came and it went bad”
Also, he called on his opponents to give him their unwavering support, promising them a sense of belonging in the party and the nation at large. He appealed to the party members to adopt their internal mechanism to resolve issues of disunity within the party.
The party’s flag was handed to the newest flag-bearer to take over and bring victory to the party in the 2023 presidential elections.
He concluded his speech by rendering a heartfelt appreciation to the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party and prayed the party wax stronger in strength and glory.
