The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has urged his fellow contestants in the primary election to work with him for the victory of the party.

Mr Abubakar said this on Sunday morning in Abuja in his acceptance speech, after he was declared winner of the PDP primary and party’s candidate.

He described the primary election that produced him as free and well-fought, pledging to work with the co-aspirants and give them a sense of belonging, if elected.

“Let me also use this opportunity to call on my fellow contestants and to assure them that I am ready to cooperate and work with them and give them a sense of belonging in this party and our next government.

“Therefore, my fellow compatriots, I want to appreciate your efforts in deepening our democratic processes in this party. It was a well fought primary election.

“So, I commend you for that and I look forward to working with you very closely. So that together we can build this party to a level where we can take over the government,” Mr Abubakar said.

He also appealed to aggrieved party members to return to the PDP, pledging that their grievances would be addressed.

Mr Abubakar described the exercise as the freest election conducted by the party, saying the outcome remains historical in bringing fundamental changes to governance and democracy.

“Today, we are making another history. The history, which we believe will bring about fundamental changes in governance and also in our political processes.

“Today, we have witnessed another one of the freest elections to be conducted by our great party. Today marks another milestone in the process of our democratic gains,” he said.

The former vice president reiterated his pledge to unify the country as well as deal with its economic and security challenges.

He recalled that in his declaration he referred to himself as a unifier and pledged to unify the country.

“I am going to deal decisively with our security challenges in this country. I also pledge to confront our economic challenges, which were caused by the APC government.

“The PDP made Nigeria one of the most prosperous countries on the African continent. We implemented economic reforms that brought about jobs, and prosperity in this country.”

The gains according to him had been wiped out, pledging to return them.

Mr Abubakar had polled 371 votes to defeat his closest contender and Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, who polled 237 votes.

(NAN)