Shortly after leaving the MKO Abiola Stadium venue of the recently held People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national convention, the presidential standard-bearer of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar paid a ‘thank you’ visit to the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal at his Abuja residence.
Mr Tambuwal, himself a presidential aspirant, withdrew from the race at the venue of the intra-party poll and directed his followers to cast their vote for the former Vice President.
He told delegates just before the commencement of voting that he came to the conclusion after wide consultation.
He became the third aspirant to step down in under 24 hours, the others being Mohammed Hayatu-Deen and Nwachukwu Anakwenze.
Addressing the delegates, Tambuwal said having consulted widely, he had come to the firm belief that as leaders, the time may come in their sojourn to make sacrifices.
He said in view of the situation in the country, “I have seen the need for us to close ranks and seeing the suffering of the people, I have decided to step down Atiku.”
Meanwhile, prior to the visit, Atiku had electronically conveyed his gratitude to the governor. He wrote on his Twitter handle: “Thank you, H.E Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, for your spirited campaign. I look forward to working with you as we unite our party and our country. -AA #PDPPresidentialPrimaries.”