As at 11:52a.m., it was obvious that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar got the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to face sitting President, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), among others.
Atiku had 1532 votes as at 12:17p.m. to better Tambuwal’s 693 votes. Counting for Atiku ended for him at the Adokie Amasieemeka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, venue of the PDP National Convention.
Senate President Bukola Saraki polled 317 votes. Nine others fell behind.
It is 16 years after Atiku openly showed interest in becoming President. This put him on a collision course with his former principal, President Olusegun Obasanjo, who almost nailed him with a series of investigation. The former President swore never to support Atiku, until the last few weeks when some other generals persuaded him to give his former deputy a chance.
One source from the Aminu Tambuwal camp confirmed to Everyday.ng in Port Harcourt that the trio of Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Theophillus Yakubu Danjuma swung the votes in favour of Atiku.
He, However, added that Senate President Bukola Saraki’s late entry into the race after working with and for Tambuwal was the former Speaker’s undoing.
“After his victory at the Supreme Court, it occurred to him he could throw in his hat, and that compounded our case. He divided what we were expecting from the National Assembly in Port Harcourt. There were whispers he worked for Atiku, but that is unlikely,” another source said.