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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has said he will keep contesting for the presidential seat as long as he is hale and hearty.
Atiku stated said this during an interview with Hausa service of the Voice of America in Abuja.
The 77-year-old politician would be 81 by the time the next presidential election comes around in 2027.
“Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy,” he said.
Atiku has run for the number one office six times but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — 2007, 2019 and 2023.
The former vice president said he is consoled by the fact that former United States President, Abraham Lincoln, did not win the presidential vote on the first time of asking.
Speaking on the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he said the party needs to be united and forge alliances with other political groups to win the presidential election in 2027.
“Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning.
“However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election. Strong support and collaboration with other parties are required,” the former vice president said.
Atiku had last week said he was engaging Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, to discuss the possibility of a merger.
“This is to anybody that thinks there is going to be a misunderstanding between me and Obi, let me assure you that not even a small issue is going to happen between us.
“Also, we are going to be behind anybody that will be chosen to represent us in the forthcoming elections.
“I have made it clear in my previous speeches that if our parties are going to merge to agree on a candidate from the South East, as long as he is qualified, we will allow it,” he added.