A political associate of former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Ibrahim Abdulkarim, has urged ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to withdraw from the presidential race ahead of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary.
NOP NIGERIA reports that Abdulkarim, during an interview with Trust TV on Friday, asserted that Atiku will not win the presidential primary.
Abdulkarim argued that Atiku’s long political career should be honoured with a dignified exit rather than another contest, stressing that stepping aside would allow his name to be remembered positively by future generations.
According to Abdulkarim, the ADC members should rally behind a joint ticket involving Peter Obi and former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, citing the strength of their grassroots support bases.
He said, “Atiku will be 80 years old next year. We don’t want to defeat him. Considering his work from 1992 till this day, we know he is not going to win, so we are giving him a soft landing to withdraw from the ADC presidential primary so he can look good in the eyes of young Nigerians.
“That way, his name can be honoured by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Timing is everything in politics, and this is the time of the South. Age is not on his side.
“We have very strong movements the Obidient movement and the Kwankwassiyya movement. Those around him are not telling him what they are supposed to be telling him.”
