Some leaders in the Northern part of Nigeria, ahead of the 2023 presidential election are making move to present a consensus presidential candidate.
The group identified the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and the flagbearer of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso as the major candidates in the forthcoming election.
A source told New Telegraph that many leaders in the North are backing Atiku’s presidential ambition.
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According to the source ( name withheld), the former vice president has been adopted as a consensus candidate.
The source said:
“Our people have resolved to adopt a consensus candidate for 2023 and the person they have picked is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the PDP.”
The source, who is a member of the Northern Elders Forum disclosed that prominent leaders in the North are mounting pressure on Kwankwaso to withdraw for Atiku.
The source said:
“I can tell you that our leaders in the North have commenced moves to pressurise Senator Kwankwaso to drop his presidential bid for Atiku Abubakar in the interest of our people.”
However, there are speculations that Kwankwaso has remained adamant about the pressures to step down for Atiku.
The former Governor of Kano State wants to go on with his presidential ambition.
A source in the NNPP said: “Madugu (Kwankwaso’s sobriquet) has been bombarded with calls and visitations from prominent leaders in the North to drop his bid for Waziri (Atiku’s traditional title) but he (former Kano governor) has remained adamant.”
The source noted that Kwankwaso’s refusal to step down might not be unconnected to the circumstances that led to his exit from the PDP.
The source added:
“It would be difficult for Madugu to support the PDP because of the way some people close to Alhaji Atiku treated him when he was there, so such a possibility is very remote.
“I think even if he drops his bid, the only person Madugu would back is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.”
