The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate for 2023, Atiku Abubakar, has been urged to step down from politics by the leading Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Atiku’s long-held goal of becoming president has ended, according to Ohanaeze.

The group said this while expressing gratitude to the G-5 governors led by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike for crushing Atiku’s aspirations.

Read Also: Gumi’s remarks on Wike and Christians have led Ohanaeze to demand his arrest

In a statement, Atiku was advised to step down from politics due to his contempt for the zoning formula in the previous presidential election, according to Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze.

Along with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he praised Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of Afenifere, for endorsing Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

Part of the statement says this: “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who stood firmly in support of Mr. Peter Obi, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, Middle Belt Forum, Pa Edwin, Pan Niger Delta (PANDEF), and all others.” Their steadfast dedication to the cause is admirable.

The G5 Governors, led by Nyesom Wike, deserve special recognition for their pivotal role in undermining the aspirations of Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, has fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming president.

“He knows that his age requires him to make this sacrifice in order to save the PDP, which he damaged both internally in 2023 by disobeying the zoning formula that favoured the Southeast and the Igbo people, and externally in 2015 by siding with the APC to remove Jonathan.” “This is the right time for him to properly retire from active politics.”