2023: IBB, Northern PDP, Dump Atiku, Tambuwal; Choose Saraki, Mohammed As Consensus Candidates

By Gideon Njoku

The hope of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, to pick the Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dwindled.

Their hopes received a major blow when Northern Elders of the PDP and former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, dumped their aspirations, and instead, chose former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, as consensus candidates for the North.

They met on Friday, April 22, 2022, at IBB’s Minna home where the Candidates presented themselves. They included Tambuwal, Mohammed, Saraki and Mohammed Hayatu- Deen.

Out of the lot, they zeroed in on Saraki and Mohammed. It is now left for the two, after more discussions, and screening, to decide on which one of them the North  will present at the PDP Presidential Primary as its sole candidate.

It is not known yet, if Atiku, who was not present at the meeting would fall in line, but addressing Reporters after the meeting, former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Professor Ango Abdullahi, confirmed that only four aspirants presented themselves for screening for the purpose of choosing a consensus candidate for the North in PDP.

He said:

“For the purpose of this exercise, it is hereby resolved that Governor Bala Mohammed from the North East and former Senate President Bukola Saraki from the North Central be presented as the Northern consensus candidates for the moment.”

He then advised the two aspirants to work together  for further consultations so as to zero in on one consensus candidate to ensure smooth primaries.

Abdullahi: “Doing so will foster understanding among themselves and the PDP community to ensure a rancour free primaries in which all eligible candidates would be free to exercise their right.”

Before they reached the consensus, Professor Abdullahi said IBB had sent him on a consultation with Elders in the three zones of the North.

Governor Mohammed told Reporters that he and Saraki would meet and decide on which of them would be PDP’s consensus Presidential aspirant for the unity of the  North.

Mohammed: “We have reached an agreement to seek consensus so that we can close ranks and build unity for the North and Nigeria. We are happy that after due process and due consultation, involving the PDP Northern Elders Forum, I and Saraki have been chosen as Northern consensus candidates. We will go ahead and consult more among ourselves and bring out one candidate.”

This endorsement, however, does not exclude other PDP Northern aspirants from presenting themselves for the Primary.