Tambuwal so confident of securing PDP presidential ticket he shuns re-election as Sokoto State governor

SOKOTO State governor Aminu Tambuwal is so confident of becoming the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential candidate at its annual convention next weekend that he has refused to put himself forward for a second term in office.

In 2014, Governor Tambuwal, the  former speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, defected from the then ruling PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was nominated as its governorship candidate. In the subsequent 2015 gubernatorial elections, he was subsequently elected Sokoto State governor, wrestling the state from the PDP for the APC.

On August 1 this year, however, Governor Tambuwal defected from the APC and rejoined the PDP, where he has since declared himself a candidate for the party's presidential ticket. Said to have the backing of the PDP chairman Prince Uche Secondus and the party's main financier Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Governor Tambuwal is hopeful of being confirmed as the PDP presidential candidate at its annual convention taking place in Port Harcourt next weekend.

Among the 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. Governor Tambuwal appears sop sure of his chances, however, that he did not participate in the primaries to select a PDP governorship candidate in Sokoto State that held over the weekend.

In these primaries, a former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Alhaji Manir Dan-Iya emerged winner as the PDP governorship candidate. Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, the returning officer in the elections, declared Alhaji Dan-Iya, the sole candidate, the winner after he scored 2,175 votes.

Ambassador Yuguda said: “The election was hitch free. Some 2,490 delegates were screened, out of which Dan-Iya emerged winner with 2,175 lawful votes.”

Governor Tambuwal and a former and governor and fellow PDP presidential aspirant Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa both witnessed the event. other senior PDP members from Sokoto State including Senator Ibrahim Danbaba, Ambassador Abdallahi Wali and four house of representatives members also witnessed the elections that were observed by security operatives.

However, Governor Wike did stand for re-election and was nominated as the PDP governorship candidate in Rivers State over the weekend,. In his acceptance speech, the governor thanked the delegates for electing him and promised that he would not disappoint those who placed their confidence in him.