Segun Atanda/
Even before the counting was over today, presidential aspirants of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stood up to congratulate themselves as soon as the counting of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s votes moved beyond the 693 scored by Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.
None of the other aspirants made it up to 693, so people started celebrating as Atiku’s votes moved to 1000 and beyond.
He eventually won with 1,532 votes, followed by Tambuwal – 693, Senate President Bukola Saraki – 317, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso – 158; Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo – 111, a former Governor of Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido – 96; a former Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi – 74, a former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki (SAN) – 65, a former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, and – 48, Gen David Mark – 35.
Other scores are Sen Jonah Jang – 19, and Datti Baba Ahmed – 05. The umpire said that 68 votes were voided.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State handled the counting and announced Atiku as the winner at the Adokiye Amasiemeka Stadium, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier given its ticket to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with a ratification from 14,842,072 members.
Atiku’s Chief Agent, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, had earlier disclosed that his candidate would win the presidential primary.
Before the counting began, he said, “I have no doubt that Atiku Abubakar has won the primary.”
Also, Senator Ben Bruce, another agent of Atiku, emerged from the vote sorting platform to say that “Atiku has won”.
Seventy-two-year-old Atiku Abubakar, a businessman, who served as the second elected vice-president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), with President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Abubakar worked in the Nigeria Customs Service for 20 years, rising to become the Deputy Director before he retired in April 1989 to go into politics.
He ran for the office of governor in the Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba states) in 1991, and for the Presidency in 1993, placing third after MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries.
In 1998 he was 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.
Abubakar ran for the presidency 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).
He joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and sought the party’s ticket in 2014 but lost to President Muhammadu Buhari at the primary held in Lagos.
Abubaker defected again in May to PDP where he on Sunday clinched the ticket to tackle incumbent President Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.
Abubakar is a co-founder of Intels, an oil servicing business with extensive operations in Nigeria and abroad and founder of the American University of Nigeria
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