As Okowa gets accolades for organizing
a successful convention FORMER Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Sunday
polled 1, 532 votes to beat his closest rival, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal to emerge
as the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the
2019 general elections. Declaring the result at the Adokiye Amiesiemeka
Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State venue of the Special National Convention
of the PDP, Chairman, Planning Committee for the Convention, Senator Dr Ifeanyi
Okowa, stated that Alhaji Tambuwal got 693 Votes. Other aspirants who contested
at the Convention otherwise known as the PDP Presidential Primary election
were, Senate President Bukola Saraki (317 votes), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (158
votes), Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo (111 votes), Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed (05
votes), Senator Ahmed Makarfi (74 votes), Senator David Mark (35 votes), Alhaji
Sule Lamido (96 votes), Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa (48 votes), Senator Jonah Jang
(19 votes) and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (65 votes).
Speaking shortly after
declaring the winner at the Convention witnessed by former President Goodluck
Jonathan and his Vice, Alhaji Sambo, Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus,
among other prominent Nigerians,
Governor Okowa stated, “all
the agents have endorsed this document and signed, I wish to declare that
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been elected the Presidential Candidate of our party
in the 2019 general elections. He congratulated the winner, those who
participated in the Convention and the Chairman of the party,
Prince Uche Secondus, adding,
“we thank God for His grace; our National Chairman will invite our Presidential
candidate to make his acceptance speech.”
Alhaji Abubakar in his
acceptance speech, said, “today, we are witnessing a landmark event, I thank
the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Governor Okowa – this is the most
credible, transparent and fair primaries; let me also commend my co aspirants
for the display of a sense of unity, a sense of purpose, they have shown that
the interest of this party and interest of our country is paramount to personal
interest.”
“I cannot do it alone, I need your support, I
need your assistance, it is not a one-man job, it is a collective
responsibility, together we will succeed and after we succeed, we will be
partners in the success story,” he said,
adding, “this is the most
innovative electoral process this party has had since 1998 and we have learnt a
lot from this exercise.” He continued, “we cannot afford to fail Nigerians at
this point, because Nigerians are yearning for the PDP to return to power, they
have seen the mismanagement of the government of the APC government, through
collective efforts, PDP shall return to power in 2019.”
The Presidential candidate
disclosed that it was not just enough to identify the challenges of the country
but, the PDP shall proffer solutions to those challenges. Senate President,
Bukola Saraki on behalf of all the Presidential aspirants congratulated Alhaji
Abubakar, pledging to work with him to achieve results.
According to Saraki, “today
is a great day for this party because it has shown that the interest of this
party is more than our personal interest; we thank Governor Okowa for organizing
a free and transparent election; we congratulate Alhaji Abubakar for the
victory, we are here to work with you (Alhaji Abubakar) to achieve success
because we all know what Nigerians are yearning for.”
Prince Secondus, said, “for the first time in
the history of our country, a political party have conducted a free and fair
election; with all of us here, we want to let the All Progressive Congress know
that we are set to take back our country; we expect the Independent National
Electoral Commission to learn from this process; I believe the PDP is now
united to carry the most civilized campaign to reclaim our mandate in 2019.”Credit: https://www.vanguardngr.com
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