A former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has congratulated Atiku Abubakar for emerging the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential flagbearer for the 2023 general elections on Saturday.
Atiku, the former Nigeria’s Vice-President, polled 371 out of the 767 accredited votes to defeat his closest rival, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike who garnered 237 votes.
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, came a distant third with 70 votes while Akwa Ibom governor Udom Emmanuel got 38 votes.
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Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed polled 20 votes, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes, and Dele Momodu, Ayo Fayose, Charles Ugwu, and Chikwendu Kalu scored zero votes each, while Tarella Diana and Sam Ohuabunwa each received one vote each.
Gov Aminu Tambuwal had stepped down for Atiku before voting commenced.
Reacting, Fani-Kayode advised the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to field a Northerner to defeat Atiku.
He wrote on Twitter, “Congratulations to @atiku. Not only is he a formidable candidate but he comes from a zone that has not produced a democratically-elected President for 62 years. This is justice.
“@OfficialAPCNg MUST field a NORTHERNER if we want to win. Whichever way, a hard fight lies ahead.”
Acceptance speech
In his acceptance speech, Atiku pledged to make security and the unity of Nigerians his topmost priority when elected President in 2023.
He appealed to PDP members to come together in the interest of the party and Nigerians who have placed their hopes on the PDP.
Atiku said this in his acceptance speech soon after he was returned as the duly elected presidential candidate of the PDP, in Abuja, on Saturday.
He said: “Today history has been made. The History which we believe will bring about fundamental changes in our electoral system.
“Today, we witnessed one of the freest election in the history of our great party.”
