PDP Presidential Primary: Tambuwal Reveals Why He Stepped Down For Atiku

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has revealed why he stepped down for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at the PDP Presidential primary election.

The Editor Nigeria recalls that Tambuwal stepped down from the race shortly before voting began at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries and declared support for Abubakar.

He told his supporters at the primary election held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday night to vote for the former vice president.

In a chat with The Punch, spokesman to Governor Tambuwal, Mohammed Bello, said his principal stepped down from the race because some aspirants were bribing delegates and compromising the process.

Bello said Tambuwal will not take part in a process which was heavily monetized, adding that such a thing is not the best for the country.

He said the governor believed in the need for the PDP to rally around one another and present a candidate that can save Nigeria and asked his delegates to vote for a particular aspirant of his choice.

Bello said the ambition of his boss was never a do-or-die affair but to save the country from the bad governance of the All Progressives Congress-led administration.

The governor’s spokesman, however, dismissed the statement credited to some groups that the North ganged up against the South at the primaries.

He said: “What happened was when he realised some aspirants were using money to induce delegates which he believes is not the best for the country; that was why he took such a decision.

“If they accuse Tambuwal of gang-up, what then happened to all the 92 votes from the South-East delegates? Why couldn’t the former Senate President, Pius Anyim, garner up to 20 votes out of 92?”