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Monday, May 30, 2022

Atiku visits Wike, Saraki as post-primary consultation continues

Mr Abubakar is seeking both politicians support to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at next year’s presidential election.

• May 30, 2022
Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike and Bukola Saraki
Atiku Abubakar, Nyesom Wike and Bukola Saraki

Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday visited Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike and former Senate president Bukola Saraki as part of his post-primary election consultation.

Mr Abubakar who emerged winner of the keenly contested primary arrived at the governor’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja, at about 10:00 a.m. on Monday, to reconcile with Mr Wike who was rumoured to be unhappy with the outcome of the primary election.

Mr Abubakar sought the governor’s support during his visit, noting that they all have a common enemy in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He emphasised the need for every member of PDP to work together to unseat the APC, charging aggrieved party members to put the convention’s events behind them in order to achieve this goal.

Responding to Mr Abubakar’s charge, Mr Wike vowed to stick by his word and support whoever wins the ticket.

The Rivers governor who described himself as a party man, said he will continue to support and remain loyal to the party, and urged the party’s candidate to learn from his 2019 defeat.

On Saturday, Mr Wike polled the second highest vote behind Mr Abubakar at the party’s primary, receiving 237 votes to trail behind Mr Abubakar’s 371 votes.

Mr Wike was said to have had a good chance of winning the primary if Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, had not withdrawn at the last minute.

Mr Tambuwal had after withdrawing from the race for the party’s presidency ticket, asked his supporters to vote for Mr Abubakar.

However, Mr Wike reportedly left the convention venue without congratulating the party’s president elect more that 24 hours after the conclusion of the party’s primary election.

Political analysts have tied Mr Abubakar’s victory to the shocking withdrawal of Mr Tambuwal from the race.

Mr Atiku also visited Mr Saraki shortly after his meeting with the Rivers governor.

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