Atiku wins PDP presidential primaries
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has won the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primaries.
He polled 371 votes to emerge winner.
Former Senate President and Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Senator David Mark declared him winner of the primaries and the party’s presidential candidate.
His closest challenger, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, polled 237 votes, while a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, scored 70 votes.
Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel got 38 votes; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, scored 20 votes; a former Senate President, Pius Anyim, got 14 votes, while a former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Sam Ohuabunwa, polled only one vote.
Before voting started, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal had stepped down from the race, asking his supporters to vote Atiku.
Atiku in his acceptance speech, extended a hand of fellowship to the defeated aspirants and pledged to work with them to ensure victory for the party.
He described the primary as one of the freest elections to be conducted by the party,.
“Today marks another milestone in the process to consolidate our democratic gains,” he said.
According to him, if elected President, he would unify the country, deal with insecurity and revamp the economy.
He accused the All Progressives Congress government of polarising the country.
“I pledge to unify the country that is why I refer to myself as a unifier. Unity is very important because the government of the APC has disunited Nigerians completely.”
