A former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has emerged winner at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential primaries in Port Harcourt.
Abubakar who polled over a thousand to defeat his closest rival, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto State who polled 693.
Votes recorded by other Presidential aspirants include Jonah Jang 19, David Mark 35, Dati Ahmed 05, Taminu Turaki 65, Sule Lamido 96, Attahiru Bafarawa 48, Ibrahim Dankwambo 111, Ahmed Makarfi 74, Rabiu Kwankwaso 158, Bukola Saraki 317.
Abubakar worked in the Nigeria Customs Service for twenty years, was in 1998 elected Governor of Adamawa State. While still Governor-Elect he was selected by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate Olusegun Obasanjo as his running mate. The duo went on to win elections in February 1999, and Abubakar was sworn-in as Nigeria’s second democratically elected vice president on 29 May 1999.
Abubakar’s second term as Vice President was marked by a stormy relationship with President Obasanjo. His bid to succeed Obasanjo did not receive the latter’s support, and it took a judgment of the Supreme Court to allow Abubakar contest after he was initially disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the grounds that he had been indicted for financial misconduct by an investigating panel set up at Obasanjo’s behest. The Supreme Court ordered the electoral commission to restore Abubakar’s name onto the presidential ballot. Abubakar ran on the platform of the Action Congress, having quit the PDP on account of his issues with President Obasanjo. Abubakar lost the election, placing third after Umaru Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
The PDP’s flagbearer who hails from Adamawa State, North East Nigeria, will face the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate and incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, a native of Katsina State in the North Western part of the Country.
