TELL Magazine

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto State caused a stir at the presidential primaries of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP on Saturday when he announced that he was stepping down his ambition to run for office of the president. He did not stop at that. He also implored his supporters to vote for Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and a leading contender for the party’s ticket. The Sokoto State governor was one of the three aspirants, others being Bala Mohammed and Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara State and president of the Senate during the 8th National Assembly, who went round the country in the bid to get a consensusbcandidate for the party. He was not happy with the outcome of that exercise because it gave the impression that only the other two aspirants had the support of the leaders in the north. Tambuwal who earlier addressed the delegates telling them of his qualities to win the forthcoming election and run the affairs of the country better than the way President Muhammadu Buhari had done held many spell bound when he mounted the rostrum shortly before the voting started to announce that he was stepping down.
If his supporters would do his prompting then Atiku may have an edge above other contestants who include Governors Nyesom Wike, Udom Emmanuel and Bala Mohammed of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bauchi states respectively; Pius Anyim, former senate president, former governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose.
The primaries, which is taking place at the MKO Abiola stadium, Abuja came days ahead of that of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, which shifted its primaries hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC announced an extension of the conclusion of party primaries.

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