2023: PDP finally speaks on alleged plans to adopt Atiku as presidential candidate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed media reports claiming it is planning to return Nigeria's former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as its presidential candidate in 2023.

The party's spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, said on Wednesday, February 17, that the party does not have a presidential candidate yet as it has not sold nomination form to anybody, Daily Trust reported.

Ologbondiyan said the PDP is always ready to defend democracy and will not in any way support the imposition of candidates.

He said: “We have not started selling forms, until then, we don’t know those who are contesting for the presidential ticket of the party for 2023. Moreover, we have not started selling forms."

Also, the PDP spokesperson said the party is not plotting to remove its national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, as being claimed in some quarters.

He reiterated that the party is united and is already working on taking over from the APC in 2023.

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Bukola Saraki, former Senate president, expressed optimism in former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan staying in the PDP.

Saraki gave this assurance on Tuesday, February 16, when some leaders of the party met with the former president amid growing speculations surrounding his projected move to the APC.

He added that the former president has agreed to work as part of the reconciliatory committee for the party.