What Saraki Said In Port Harcourt After Losing PDP Presidential Ticket To Atiku

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, is among the 11 aspirants that lost the presidential primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku defeated the eleven PDP presidential aspirants after scoring 1, 532 votes against his closes rival, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, who got 693 votes.

Votes garnered by the other aspirants are: Abubakar Bukola Saraki (317), Rabiu Kwankwaso (158), Ibrahim Dankwambo (111), Sule lamido (96), Ahmed Markarfi (74), Attahiru Bafarawa (48), David Mark (35), Jonah Jang (19), Datti Baba Ahmed (05) and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (68).

Speaking on behalf of the aspirants after Atiku was declared winner of the PDP presidential primary, Saraki said:

“We all believe that the interest of this country is more important than our individual interest. I want to first and foremost on behalf of the aspirants thank and congratulate the chairman of the electoral committee, Governor [Ifeanyi] Okowa, and the members for doing us proud and for putting in place the best convention that we have seen…transparent, open and showing that the PDP can get it right and do it right, and that we have men of integrity who can make things happen. Governor Okowa, I congratulate and thank you on behalf of our members.

“And on behalf of my colleagues, I thank our well-deserved presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“Sir you said yourself, this has been a journey, but you stayed on course and today you truly deserve this. On behalf of all of us, we congratulate you. You have said it is not something you are going to do alone. Let me assure you, we are here, and you just need to call us…even if you don’t call us, we are here to work with you.

“All the doubting thomases (sic) that thought all the aspirants will not be here, that this and that will happen, but we are all here. We are not walking any anywhere, we’re only walking with you to victory.

“And on that note let me on behalf of the aspirants thank all the delegates and particularly all our party members who during the last few months received us in their different states. [Thank you for] the honour that you have given us to participate in this process. The participation in the process itself is an honour to be able to go round the country. We always knew from day one that only one person will emerge, so today’s event is not surprising. What we have achieved individually and collectively, going around the country and meeting our people is a blessing and an honour for us. So once again sir, on behalf of the other aspirants, we are with you and are confident tha with us as a team, May 29, 2019 the flags of red, white and green will be in the [Presidential] Villa as our party comes to take over. Once again sir, congratulations,” said the Senate President.