A former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, garnered 1,532 votes to beat 11 other presidential aspirants who contested for the flagship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the party\u2019s special elective national convention held at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
\nAtiku, Vice President to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, polled almost 50 per cent of the entire 3,274 total votes cast during the PDP presidential primaries, which began last Saturday with accreditation of delegates but effectively commenced, yesterday, at about 1.20pm with announcement of the result at around 11am.
\nAtiku was trailed by the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambunal, who got 673 votes while the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki scored 317 votes for the third position in the keenly contested but transparent election.
\nOther aspirants include Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, 158; Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, 111; Sule Lamido, 96; and Senator Ahmed Makarfi with 74 votes.
\nThe rest are Kabiru Turaki, 65 votes; Attahiru Bafarawa, 48; Jonah Jang, 19; David Mark, 36; and Ahmed Datti with five votes.
\nA total of 68 votes were voided of the 3,274 total votes cast in the election.
\nWith Atiku\u2019s emergence as the PDP\u2019s standard bearer, he will now slug it out with the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, who was endorsed at the ruling party\u2019s national convention held in Abuja, last Saturday.
\nThe PDP flagbearer will battle Buhari in the February 16, 2019 Presidential election with other presidential challengers from other political parties.
\nAtiku, the Waziri of Adamawa, decamped from the APC this year following what he described as the failure of the party to fulfill its electioneering promises to Nigerians.
\nHe has since then been a critical and opposing voice of the APC-led Federal Government and advocate of re-structuring of the Nigerian Federation.
\nVirtually all the other 11 contestants embraced and congratulated Atiku over his re-sounding and landslide victory.
\nSimilarly, all the PDP governors, including Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, also congratulated Atiku for his victory.
\nMeanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has congratulated the candidate of the PDP for the 2019 presidential election, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
\nWike personally extended his congratulations to the former Vice President after his election was announced by the Chairman of the National Convention Planning Committee, Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
\nThe Rivers State governor, who was in company of his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Emmanuel Udom assured that he will continue to work for the success of the PDP.
\nWike thanked all PDP delegates and stakeholders for ensuring a successful and peaceful National Convention in Port Harcourt.
\nThe former Vice President paid tribute to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike for his personal commitment to the success of the party.
\nHe also thanked the people of Rivers State for their support for the transparent process.
\nSimilarly, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said that in the just concluded presidential primary of the PDP, there was no victor and no vanquished.
\nGiving a speech after the declaration of Atiku Abubakar as the winner of the polls, yesterday, Secondus said that all the aspirants in the election won the election.
\nSecondus insisted that the process being free and fair, had all the aspirants contesting as brothers, adding that although a winner had been declared, the credibility of the process was a victory for PDP and all the aspirants.
\nHe called on the aspirants to keep true to their congratulatory message to Atiku Abubakar, urging them to work together as one bloc to ensure that the PDP clinches power in 2019 and save Nigeria.
\nSecondus also used the opportunity to call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to \u201clearn from the presidential primary of the PDP and know that election can be free and fair\u201d
\nMeanwhile, the President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki who scored the third highest vote in the election congratulated Atiku Abubakar, pledging on behalf of all the aspirants to work with Atiku to actualise the goal of a PDP president in 2019.
\nCalling for an adjournment of the convention, Senator Abiodun Olujimi enjoined all parties to work as one to ensure the success of the PDP in 2019.
\nThe convention was thereafter adjourned.
\nEarlier, ahead of the 2018 PDP National Convention, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike had welcomed all delegates of the party to the state.
\nIn a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike assured the delegates of a memorable stay in the state.
\nHe said: \u201cThe good people of Rivers State are most delighted and honoured to play host to the distinguished National Delegates of our great party as we elect our Presidential flagbearer this weekend and collectively work towards rescuing our nation from the brink of collapse.
\n\u201cAs we gather for this all-important national convention, I assure all delegates of our great party of their security before, during and after the convention. Working with the security agencies and other stakeholders, we will ensure that your stay in Port Harcourt is memorable. \u201c
\nThe statement further quoted the Rivers State governor as saying: \u201cOnce again, I welcome all delegates, journalists, observers and other visitors to Rivers State, the Treasure Base of the Nation. While you are here, enjoy the peace, love, cuisine, heritage and hospitality of Rivers State and her people.
\n\u201cI pray for journey mercies as you return to your respective destinations. I welcome you.\u201d
\nThe National Convention of the PDP hold between October 6 and 7, 2018 at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
\nAlso, the Senator representing Bayelsa Senatorial East District, Ben Murray-Bruce, has reacted to the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2019 general elections.
\nAtiku scored 1532 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Aminu Tambuwal, who polled 693 votes.
\nReacting, Ben Bruce, who took to his Twitter page to congratulate Atiku on his victory, asked Nigerians to vote for the Turakin Adamawa come 2019.
\nAccording to him, a vote for Atiku will make Nigeria work again.
\nHe wrote, \u201cI am right here staring at my camera at Atiku, the next President of Nigeria
\n\u201cLet\u2019s Get Nigeria working again.\u201d
\nA former aide on New Media to erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, while reacting on his official Twitter page, congratulated Atiku for the victory.
\nHe wrote, \u201c@atiku is the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by God\u2019s grace!\u201d
\nAlso, the Publisher of the Ovation Magazine and former Presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, said ,\u201dCongratulations to Turakin Adamawa, Waziri Atiku Abubakar on clinching the PDP Presidential ticket and salute his doggedness since his first appearance on the political stage 25 years ago against Chief Moshood Abiola, Babagana Kingibe and others.\u201d
\nFormer Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who took to his Twitter page to congratulate Atiku on his victory, asked the ruling All Progress Congress (APC), to get ready for war.
\nHe wrote, \u201cCongrats to the Waziri of Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar on a great victory. Now is the time for each and every one of us in @OfficialPDPNig to come together as a party and prepare for the presidential election. @APCNigeria get ready for war! @MBuhari prepare for your retirement!\u201d
\nSimilarly, Nigerians on social media have reacted to the emergence of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the People Democratic Party (PDP), presidential candidate.
\nReacting, some Nigerians congratulated him, while others claimed President Muhammadu Buhari would win 2019 election because of Atiku\u2019s alleged corruption cases.
\nSome of the comments read, @ileowokikiowo, \u201cLet me be the first to congratulate Nigeria\u2019s President @MBuhari for winning a second term in 2019. Nigerians won\u2019t vote the PDP presidential candidate who is wanted in the US for corruption related activities. His fellow fraudsters have served their own term in US prison.\u201d
\n@Nedunaija, \u201cAtiku will spend the whole of this campaign season struggling to deny corruption allegations.\u201d
\n@Elcruficixo, \u201cCongratulations to H.E Abubakar @Atiku who wins the PDP presidential primaries with a vote of 1585. Actually, my second favourite candidate.\u201d
\n@Stanleynwabia, \u201c@atiku is already a billionaire business man; he won\u2019t be coming as President to use Nigeria\u2019s money for his UK Healthcare.\u201d
\n@doctorchiemeziem, \u201cWho Atiku picks as his running mate will make or mar PDP\u2019s chances in 2019. If he can\u2019t get an astute manager like Peter Obi on board, he should get Okonjo-Iweala or Femi Adesina on board let\u2019s show APC what a national movement looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Goodluck Ukwe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, garnered 1,532 votes to beat 11 other presidential aspirants who contested for the flagship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the party\u2019s special elective national convention held at the Adokiye Amasiemaka Stadium, Port Harcourt. Atiku, Vice President to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, polled almost 50 per […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":187412,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-187408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-front-pix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=187408"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187408\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/187412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=187408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=187408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thetidenewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=187408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}