Presidential ticket: Atiku begins search for running mate

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday at the main bowl of Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt , Rivers State , won the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party .Hardly did Atiku emerge as the winner than the talk of his running mate started .
Investigations by our correspondents showed that the search might have been limited to the South -East region of the country .

However , in the election , Atiku polled 1 , 532 votes out of total of 3 , 221 votes , representing almost 50 per cent of the entire delegates ’ votes .

His closest rival , Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State scored 693 votes , while the President of the Senate , Olusola Saraki , came third with 317 votes .

A former Governor of Kano State , Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso , scored 158 votes ; a former Governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido , polled 96 votes , while a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter Governmental Relations , Alhaji Kabiru Turaki ( SAN ) scored 65 votes .

A former National Caretaker Chairman of the PDP , Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi , polled 74 votes ; a former Governor of Sokoto State , Attahiru Bafarawa , scored 48 votes ; a former President of the Senate , Senator David Mark , polled 35 votes ; a former Plateau State governor , Jonah Jang , scored 19 votes , while Dr Datti Ahmed scored five votes .

How Atiku won

Facts have emerged that Atiku won the primary through block votes from the South – East, some states in the South – South and North- East .

It was also gathered that there was no state in the country where Atiku did not score considerable number of votes .

It was learnt that Atiku was not the favourite of some governors in the South -South who had a soft spot for Tambuwal , to become the standard bearer of the PDP .

It was , however , gathered that the alleged gang – up against Atiku from emerging the candidate of the party was thwarted by delegates ’ votes from some of the states from other regions , apart from the South -South .
The National Legal Adviser, Peoples Equality Congress for Atiku Abubakar, Mr Agu Aguma, and a leader of PEC, Chief Bestman Festus , said Atiku had proved that he was an experienced politician who understood political intrigues and horse trading .

Aguma said Atiku who knew that some persons were working against his candidacy decided to engage states without PDP governors to drive his ambition .

The legal practitioner said it was good that Atiku won the PDP primary , noting that he was the most qualified and experienced to defeat the candidate of the All Progressives Congress .

He said , “ Although some interests , including governors , had wanted an alternative candidate , the programme Atiku outlined for the socio – economic development of the country , his restructuring agenda , coupled with his good plans for the youth , job creation , stood him out . ”

Investigations by our correspondents revealed that nearly all delegates from Ebonyi State voted for the former Vice -President .

It was also learnt that Atiku and Tambuwal shared the votes of the delegates from Enugu State.

However , Atiku beat Tambuwal in the allocation of the votes of delegates from Imo , Abia and Anambra states, according to sources among the South – East contingent .

One of the delegates , who spoke on condition of anonymity , said Tambuwal ’ s closeness to some governors in the zone was what prevented Abubakar from recording a clean sweep of the votes of the South – East delegates .

“ Most of us from the South – East cast our votes for Atiku Abubakar, I know for a fact that Ebonyi delegates voted massively for him .

“ Atiku got the backing of majority of the delegates from the other states in the zone , although Tambuwal was able to record a considerable number of votes .

“ One of the governors ( in the South -East ) has a close relationship with Tambuwal and that had a major influence on the way delegates from the state voted , otherwise Abubakar would have recorded a clean sweep of the votes from the zone , ” the delegate said .

He added that alleged cash inducement of the delegates by the aspirants before the commencement of voting had no effect on the outcome of the convention .

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