Chairman Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Walid Jibrin has said former vice president, Atiku Abubakar will not get automatic ticket to contest the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the party.

Jibrin said this while speaking to journalists in Kaduna.

Background:

The Adamawa chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) had renewed its call on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to return to the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

What Jibrin said:

He said if Atiku returns as speculated in some quarters, he would  struggle with others for the party’s ticket.

He added that the party was ready for Atiku’s return and would warmly accept him and his supporters back to the PDP fold.

Jibrin said, “Has he told you he is returning to the PDP? We are ready to accept him to our party but he should be ready to work for a waiver.

“The North met in Abuja to say that any candidate from the North can contest. Let us get them. I think they are getting set now. For now, we have a former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, former Jigawa State governor, Sule  Lamido; a former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, and so on preparing to vie for the PDP presidential ticket.

“If the PDP grants Atiku a waiver, he should then join the cream of presidential aspirants in the party to fight for the ticket in 2019.

“If the PDP considers Atiku for the automatic presidential ticket,  what about those in the party who are showing interest? Should we throw them away? If he is coming, he should come as an equal partner.

“We are ready to accept him. But, he must follow the rules of the game. First, he must undergo primaries like any other person, and he must fight for the presidential ticket.”

Azeez