2019: Atiku’s Formula Rattles Opponents

By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is silently working underground to grab the Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the chagrin and discomfort of some other presidential aspirants of the party and APC leadership. Atiku who rejoined the PDP last year after a sojourn in the All Progressives Congress, APC, early this year declared his ambition to replace President Muhammadu Buhari next year as President.

His return to the PDP had aroused tremendous interest and passion within and outside the party with many predicting he would effortlessly grab the party’s presidential ticket.

With  Gombe state governor, Ibrahim Dankwanbo and former Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido indicating interest in the PDP presidential ticket too, Atiku’s critics say  his own presidential ambition has not only weaned but has lost the initial momentum. However, credible sources close to the former number two citizen informed this magazine he has in the last two months been reaching out quietly to PDP bigwigs across the country including state and ward chairmen of the party.

The source gathered that Atiku’s interface with the party leaders at state levels will be periodic. This is with the view of keeping close tab on them ahead the PDP presidential primaries. “Atiku will spring surprises at the PDP primaries. You know the Waziri Adamawa is a great mobiliser and a grassroots politician; he has been meeting with states and ward chairmen of the party and before the primaries, he will meet every single delegate to the excise. He will personally interact with the delegates. He will go visiting them individually in their various states” , an Atiku loyalist told The Source

Followers of PDP politics opine that among those who have so far indicated interest for PDP’s presidential ticket, only the former VP enjoys massive following, country-wide reach, influence and deeper war chest to mount a vigorous campaign against the APC and President Buhari next year.