People’s Democratic Party, PDP foremost presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar was absent on Wednesday when Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, held a closed-door meeting with some presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) ahead of the party’s primaries.

It was gathered the aspirants deepened discussion on a consensus presidential candidate for the party to reduce internal rancour ahead of the election.

Aspirants present at the meeting, which held in Government House in Port Harcourt were Bauchi Governor Senator Bala Mohammed; Sokoto Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; a former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and a former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Dr. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

Wike said the aspirants were interested in promoting the unity of the party ahead of the primaries and forthcoming general elections.

The Governor expressed their interest in developing a formidable strategy that would enable the PDP coast to victory in the 2023 presidential election.

He said: “Our interest is the unity of the party. Our interest is to make Nigerians happy by making sure that by 2023, PDP takes over the reins of government because Nigerians are patiently waiting. And I can assure you that we are going to work as a team to make Nigerians happy.”

On his part, the leader of the delegation, Saraki said their discussion was on identifying the best available way in ensuring that there was unity within the party and among the various presidential aspirants.

He said Nigerians were looking up to the PDP as the only option that would provide the needed direction for the country.

He said: “We are here to have a discussion and we just finished talking about how best way for us to reunite our party, bring unity among all those who are aspiring to lead this country under PDP.

“We all realize the importance of this and PDP is the only option ready to redirect this country in the right direction and bring progress and provide a better future for our people.

“We have been to some of the other states and today we are here with Governor of Rivers State, a key stakeholder of this party to discuss frankly.

“He has given us his views and make some suggestions and we will continue to work with that as we move away from here. But the key thing is unity, the key thing is to put the country first and put the party first.”