By Our Correspondent
Two candidates for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary election, Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and businessman Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, have both withdrawn from the contest for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to Tambuwal, his decision was taken after wide consultations with stakeholders across the country.
He appealed to his supporters and delegates to vote for Atiku.
In a related development, Hayatu-Deen announced has announced that he was exiting the race but did not say he was supporting any particular candidate.
However,
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri said later that Hayatu-Deen stepped down for Atiku.
Fintiri was speaking to Channels Television on the sidelines of the PDP’s National Convention in Abuja on Saturday.
He said: “Hayatu-Deen has stepped down for him,” adding, “I think he has stepped down for him. He has instructed his delegates to vote for Atiku.”
Fintiri said he was optimistic that the former vice-president would emerge as the PDP’s presidential flagbearer for the 2023 election.
New Citizen reports that Atiku is a major stakeholder in Adamawa State politics.