Tambuwal now PDP favourite as Mark, Dankwambo and Lamido stand down for him and he gets Northern Stakeholders Forum backing

SOKOTO State governor Aminu Tambuwal has received a big boost ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after three major aspirants agreed to stand down for him and the Northern Stakeholders Forum (NSF) also threw their weight behind his candidacy.

On Saturday, the PDP will hold its convention in Port Harcourt to pick its presidential candidate who will face President Muhammadu Buhari in next February's elections. Among the PDP candidates seeking the party presidential ticket include Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, Bukola Saraki, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Sule Lamido, Tanimu Turaki, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang, Ahmed Datti and David Mark.

This afternoon, in a surprise development, however, Sule Lamido, the former Jigawa State governor and one time foreign minister, former senate president David Mark and  Ibrahim Dankwambo, the outgoing Gombe State governor, have all stood down for Governor Tambuwal. This is a big boost for the Sokoto State governor who is now fast becoming the favourite to clinch the ticket, as he has the backing of Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, who is currently the PDP's biggest financier.

In a further boost for Governor Tambuwal, the NSF has also backed  his candidacy. NSF national publicity secretary, Alhaji Usman Adamu, said that Governor Tambuwal, being a former House of Representatives speaker and sitting governor, would be able to manage executive-legislature relationship that would fast-track national development.

He said: “The Northern Stakeholders Forum (NSF) after an emergency meeting on Thursday unanimously agreed to support the governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, as he aspires to lead the country. Parameters considered include his agenda, pedigree, popularity, youthfulness, experience and acceptance across the country.”

“We believe his legal background and involvement in the two branches of government has adequately prepared him for the greater task ahead. His presidency will engender formulation and implementation of quality policies and laws.

“As Speaker, Governor Tambuwal, Nigerians would recall, ensured a good working relationship with the executive arm to a large extent and with him at the helm of affairs, the people should expect a working government. He is not only sound, we have seen that he understands the problems of Nigeria, we have heard his position and plans on restructuring, fiscal federalism, employment generation, economic diversification, rule of law, science and technology.

“We also heard his position and plans on equity in governance, infrastructure, agriculture education, sports development, health care system, industries, insurgency in northeast and general security of the country, among others. The Northern Stakeholders Forum (NSF) believes that he has a firm grasp these issues and strongly affirm our total support for his candidature for the 2019 presidency.”