Atiku visits Makarfi in Kaduna asking him to stand down so they can combine their campaign teams

FORMER vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has stepped up his pursuit of the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential ticket by visiting fellow contestant Senator Ahmed Makarfi in Kaduna and asking him to stand down and merge their campaigns.

Nigeria goes to the polls in February next year and with President Muhammadu Buhari set to stand as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), there are about 12 candidates seeking the PDP ticket to challenge him. Apart from Alhaji Atiku and Senator Makarfi, other contestants in the crowded field include Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, Bukola Saraki, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Sule Lamido, Tanimu Turaki, Ibrahim Shekarau, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang, Ahmed Datti and David Mark.

Yesterday, Alhaji Atiku visited Senator Makarfi, a former Kaduna State governor and immediate past PDP national chairman at his residence in Kaduna to get his backing. Alhaji Atiku said the visit was aimed at seeking the support of Senator Makarfi, who is also a presidential aspirant as the party struggles to wrest power from the APC next year.

He described the APC government as a total failure and said the PDP must not be allowed to continue in office in 2019. Alhaji Atiku said he was willing to support any other candidate of the party that emerged through a credible process if he loses in the presidential primaries.

Senator Makarfi said both himself and Alhaji Atiku were eminently qualified for the country’s number one job, adding that his presidential ambition was not a do or die affair. In attendance at the meeting was the director-general of the Atiku Campaign Organisation and former Ogun State governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as well as close associates of Senator Makarfi.