Nigeria: How Atiku Defeated Wike to Emerge PDP Presidential Candidate for 2023 Election

After weeks of dilly-dallying and horse-trading, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday ignored the clamour for the rotation of the 2023 presidency and elected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for next year’s general election.

Atiku Abubakar emerged winner with 371 votes. Another top contender, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State stepped down and urged his supporters to vote for Atiku.
This pushed the 2019 flagbearer of the party past his closest challenger, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike who scored 237 votes.

In the result of the primary election announced by the Chief Returning Officer and former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, another former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki came a distant third with 70 votes, while Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel and his counterpart in Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed scored 38 votes and 20 votes, respectively.

The delegates cast 763 votes; 12 votes were voided while the number of valid votes was 751.
Yet another former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim got 14 votes while Mr Sam Ohuabunwa and the only female aspirant, Terila Diana Oliver, got one vote each.
A former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose got zero, while the Publisher of Ovation, Mr Dele Momodu, also got zero votes.

Apart from Tambuwal, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Mr Mohammed Hayatu-Deen also withdrew from the race.

While Hayatu-Deen withdrew on Friday, Anakwenze announced his withdrawal during his remarks at the convention.
Anakwenze, however, urged the delegates to vote for aspirants that can develop the country.
In his acceptance speech, Atiku pledged to unite the country, which he said, has been divided by the APC-led administration.
“Today, we are making another history which we believe will bring fundamental changes in the country, both by providing adequate security and fixing the economy,” he said.
He described the election as one of the freest and a milestone to bring about democratic changes in Nigeria.

The former vice president had in 1993, contested the Social Democratic Party presidential primary, losing to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe.

He was a presidential candidate of the Action Congress in the 2007 presidential election, coming third to 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 incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

In 2014, he joined 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.

 

HOW IT UNFOLDED

Atiku was the first to address delegates. He predicted the primary will herald the demise of the APC.

He appealed that whatever the result, the party must unite.

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Wike’s speech was a rousing one. He vowed to support “to the fullest” whoever emerged winner.

However, he proclaimed himself the “courageous, fearless” leader the PDP needs to confront the APC.

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Wike’s speech was well-recieved and his chances of emerging winner was highly-probable.

Until l Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal put a spanner in the works. He said he had come to the “patrioitic conclusion” to step down. He urged his supporters to cast their votes for Atiku!

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Wike must have felt betrayed. He supported Tambuwal to the hilt last time out, helping him to come second to Atiku.

Rather, Tambuwal decided to back the former VP he described as “Waziri Arewa”.

With Tambuwal’s support, Atiku coasted to victory. In his victory speech, he said it was time to reverse the misgovernance of the APC.

He sought the cooperation of his fellow contestants, promising to give them a sense of belonging in his administration.

He promised to deal decisively with insecurity and revive the economy.
Atiku also appealed to all aggrieved members of the party to return to the party, adding that the internal conflict resolutions would be reactivated to address and resolve all disputes.

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