2023: Atiku meets PDP NWC members, says he ‘already has 11m votes’

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to give presidential hopefuls on its platform a fair chance to compete in the primary poll.

Abubakar, who declared his intention to run for president last month, made the request on Thursday when he addressed members of the national working committee (NWC) of the party in Abuja.

The former vice-president said he is the “best candidate” to win the 2023 presidential election for the party because he secured about 11 million votes in the 2019 poll.

“I urge you to provide the right kind of leadership so that the best candidate can emerge. I dare say, Mr Chairman, I am the best candidate,” he said.

“Under normal circumstances, this is a guy who already has 11 million votes in his space. And I think as a party, you should give me the right of first refusal.

“In fact, we are in a democracy. All I urge you is to make sure that the way you have started, you should also conclude that way by being very fair, very credible, give every contestant the opportunity to face the election.”

Abubakar said Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the PDP, has “done well by giving the party an excellent relationship which means that this country should also expect an excellent leadership from the PDP”.

He said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed and will continue to fail as a party.

“Come out in force and show Nigerians just how much the APC has and will continue to fail. On a comparative analysis, if you compare the PDP and the failure of APC, you know you have no other choice but the PDP,” he added.

In his remarks, Ayu said the party will provide a level playing ground for all aspirants.

“I will not work for you. I will work for all the 17 aspirants. It is left to you to convince the delegates, market and sell yourself to the delegates,” he said.

“I know each of you, if given the opportunity, will do better than what APC has been doing. At the primaries, we will elect a candidate and we will all rally around that candidate.”

The PDP presidential primary election is scheduled to take place on May 28.