Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has won the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Primaries, held at the Abuja Velodrome Complex, yesterday. His victory was announced by the Chief Returning Officer, 2022 PDP Presidential Electoral Committee, Senator David Mark.
Atiku received 371 votes as against the runner up, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who received 237 votes. Former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, came third with 70 votes. Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State came fourth with 38 votes, beating the Northern Elder’s consensus candidate, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who came fifth with 20 votes.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, came sixth with 14 votes, beating Tariela Oliver who got a lone vote. Other contestants didn’t get any vote.
Senator Mark announced that a total of 763 votes were cast but 12 were invalid, bringing the total number of valid votes cast at the convention to 751.
Earlier, before voting began, one of the major contenders, in the person of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, withdrew from the race. While announcing his withdrawal at the venue, he urged his supporters among the delegates to cast their votes for Atiku.
