Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Monday returned his expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2015 presidential election to the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.

Mr. Abubakar, who is in the race against four other aspirants, pledged to be loyal and dedicated to the party no matter the outcome of the primary.

“I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to be the first to collect and first to return the forms. We will continue to be loyal and dedicated party members, no matter the outcome of the primary.

“I hereby submit the expression of interest and nomination forms duly and accurately completed,” he said.
Responding, the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, said he was at first nervous of the whole process but “today, I’m confident as I listen to you all.

“I want to say that with every passing day, the need for change is overpowering, made manifest from activities of people like you around the nooks and crannies of Nigeria”.

Mr. Odigie-Oyegun prayed for the best man to win the party’s ticket.

Earlier, Adamawa APC executive members and the 21 local government chairmen, held a news conference to affirm their support for the vice-president.

Led by Binta Masi-Garba, the party executives lauded Atiku’s philanthropy and social obligations.

“His marriage and business ties cut across tribe and tongue, as so his philanthropy and social obligations. Sadly, in the deeply-divided Nigeria we have today, few politicians can make such a claim.

“We are proud of the outstanding leadership role Atiku Abubakar has played in this country over the past 15 years of democracy, both within and outside government.

“He has consistently lent his voice to pressing national issues, offering counsel to the Federal Government.

“Without the least meaning to diminish his national and global stature, it is on the records that Atiku, as an individual, has done more to develop Adamawa State than any indigene of the state that is living or dead.”

She said next to the state government, he ranked as the highest employer of labour through his many businesses and industrial establishments.

She said the people were thrilled by his commitment to job creation, improving the economy, education, infrastructure, transparency in government and the overall welfare of Nigerians.

“It is on this note that the entire members of the State Executive Committee are all here.

“We are supported by the party’s chairmen in all the local government areas representing the APC in Adamawa State, and hereby endorse the Turakin Adamawa for the 2015 presidential elections.

“Following a meeting of the party executives yesterday (Sunday) evening, we unanimously resolved that we will give him our full backing towards realising his ambitions to create a Nigeria for all,” Garba said.

She also said the party believed in democracy and was open to other people’s candidacy, hence would not endorse a consensus candidacy.

(NAN)