By Nicholas Ojo
A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and some aggrieved leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have adopted the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The Forum, which is made up of leaders from the Christian and Muslim religious divide in the North, endorsed Atiku on Friday at a press briefing in Abuja.
Presenting the report of the committee put together to appraise the presidential candidates in Abuja on Friday night, former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba, said Atiku was adopted after due consideration of the report of the technical criteria committee put together by the leaders.
Northern Leaders at the meeting included: Dogara, Former Governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada; Former Minister for Water Resources, Barrister Mukhtar Shagari; among several others.
The report was signed by the chairman and secretary of the committee, former minority leader House of Representatives, Mohammed Kumalia, and Barrister Mela Nunge.
Quest Times gathered that the candidates evaluated were Atiku, Bola Tinubu of APC, candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP).
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Atiku’s endorsement was said to have followed the Forum’s adoption of a report by its technical criteria committee, presented by a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba.
According to the Forum, Atiku emerged as the best after the evaluation of all the presidential candidates.
It however pointed out that the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and the Labour Party, LP, are strong contenders for the presidency in the future.
They urged Nigerians to support the PDP in its quest to return to power in 2023.
“Certainly, with proper consultations and inclusive appointments, which is mindful of the federal character principle with a sincere consideration of diverse issues such as religious affiliation, geographical location, and ethnic identity, which many believe will enhance justice, fairness and equity, after a careful evaluation of all the issues highlighted above, we hereby recommend the adoption of the PDP to all lovers of democracy in Nigeria for the 2023 presidential election,” the Forum said.
