The main opposition party in Nigeria, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has shown its support for former Vice President and its 2019 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, stating that it would be open to fielding him again in 2023 if he shows interest.
Making this known after a two-hour party meeting held at Ramat House in Bauchi State, northern Nigeria, the National Chairman of the Party, Prince Uche Secondus while reacting to questions from journalists on the eligibility of the former presidential candidate who lost to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, disclosed that the PDP is open to any aspirant interested in running for the presidency in 2023.
“There is no room for discrimination,” Secondus said in his statement before adding that “everyone is qualified; both young, old, governors, non-governors are qualified to contest and we have the space for everyone–if you win, you become our candidate. The door is open to everybody.”
“2023 Is Not My Priority At The Moment” – Atiku
Before the party’s statement, Atiku had dispelled rumours that he was preparing to contest at the polls one more time.
Following the emergence of posters hinting at his 2023 candidacy, the former vice-president in a statement made exclusively to the Daily Post through his Media Aide, Paul Ibe, made it known that his current focus was on ensuring his party’s victory in the current governorship election taking place in Ondo state.
“This is not the preoccupation of Atiku right now, and he’s not about 2023,” Ibe said. “Now, Atiku Abubakar and other stakeholders of the party are focused on the Ondo election, and all these elections are important because it strengthens the party ahead of 2023.
It is important to note that Atiku is no stranger to the presidential race. He was the presidential candidate of the Action Congress in 2007, and when the party transformed to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he contested in 2011. Again, he contested in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but came third. He later defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and was again defeated by the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.
However, with Nigeria’s ever-growing youth population, parties need to explore younger candidates ahead of the polls, as opposed to a constant regurgitation of former leaders.
This story is part of our new series on Nigeria where we analyse electoral and political reform in the country ahead of the next general elections in 2023.
