Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is set to declare his interest in the 2023 Presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
One of Atiku’s close associate made this known in discreet, noting that Atiku will make his intention known in the first quarter of 2022 amid the ongoing crisis rocking the main opposition party as a result of presidential ticket zoning.
He explained that the party knows “exactly the candidate that can win a Presidential election on its platform,” noting that the insinuations that governors were likely to back one of their colleagues for the presidential ticket was nothing new.
He asserted that any governor presently aspiring to the Office of the President should wait for his time.
“The Wazirin Adamawa will talk to Nigerians once again about his intention to run for the Office of the President in the next general election. He will do so in the first quarter of 2022.”
“There is no point talking about issues that are neither here nor there. With due respect to our governors, I dare say Atiku is the kind of leader every party prays to have in its fold. He is widely known nationally and internationally.
“Any governor presently aspiring to the Office of the President should wait for his time. The PDP as a party must avoid the temptation of experimenting with a flag bearer whose chances of taking us to Aso Rock is doubtful.”
“Atiku is currently reviewing “Making Nigeria Great Again, the 2019 Presidential manifesto, which saw him garnered over 11 million votes to emerge first runner-up behind President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The challenges are basically the same but you will agree with me that a lot has changed in the past four years. So, there is need to take out some ideas he no longer consider useful to give room for new ones that are pertinent. Work is ongoing on that document and His Excellency once he is satisfied with it, will again address Nigerians,” he added.
A former governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu during a visit of the Atiku Support Organisation in Minna, recently asserted that he was confident of the success of the group, assuring them of his support. He noted that the party’s decision is as a result of the requests of members.
“In our zoning agreement, we have agreed to re-zone the North as requested by others but we have agreed written openly as a result of what has happened that any candidate from any part of the country can now contest this election.”
According to the former Governor, the group has done wonderfully well by going round nooks and crannies of the country to ensure that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as the party flag bearer and is elected President of Nigeria come 2023.
Meanwhile, Debo Ologunagba, the national publicity secretary, in a statement advised members of the public to disregard speculations that the party has zoned its presidential ticket.
“The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to comments and speculations from certain individuals claiming that our party has zoned its presidential ticket to a particular part of the country,” Ologunagba said.
“This is completely misleading as it does not in any way represent the position of our party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP emphatically and unequivocally states that it has not zoned its presidential ticket to any part of the country.
“The PDP is a political party founded on democratic principles and every action of the party, including zoning, is based on extensive consultations, discussions and consideration of all the issues as well as the various tendencies and interests across the nation, with the main objective of ensuring that the unity, peaceful co-existence and development of our nation are reinforced and promoted.
“The PDP, therefore, urges Nigerians, our teeming members and supporters to completely disregard the unfounded zoning claims as being peddled. Our party also cautions those behind the claims to desist forthwith.
“The PDP thanks Nigerians across the board for the overwhelming interest they have in our party as their sure platform to rescue and rebuild our nation from misrule and urges them to remain united and focused as we join forces for the task ahead.”
