Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), visited Katsina State on Saturday to pay homage to former President Muhammadu Buhari and the Emir of Daura, as well as to offer condolences to the Emir of Katsina and the family of late Lawal Kaita.
When asked about the ongoing internal crisis within the PDP in Katsina, Atiku declined to comment, stating that the people will elect their preferred candidates during the upcoming congresses.
Atiku’s visit to Katsina comes on the heels of his recent visits to former heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdussalami Abubakar, which sparked speculation about his political intentions. The PDP in Katsina has been plagued by internal conflicts, leading to the defection of former Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party’s factionalization has resulted in two opposing camps, with the governorship candidate, Yakubu Lado, on one side, and former SSG and DG campaign Atiku/Lado 2023, Mustapha Inuwa, Senator Tsauri, and Yusuf Majigiri, a serving member of the House of Representatives, on the other. Despite these divisions, Atiku remained tight-lipped about the situation, choosing instead to focus on his condolences and homage visits.