Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and will now face incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls next year.

Atiku beat 11 other contenders including Senate President  Bukola Saraki, governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal (693 votes) and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.  Saraki polled 317 votes while Kwankwaso thought to be a front-runner polled 158 votes.

Other contestants  include Ahmed Makarfi (78 votes), Ibrahim Dankwambo (111 votes), Bafarawa (48 votes), Sule Lamido (96 votes), Kabiru Turaki (65 votes), David Mark (35 votes),  Baba Ahmed (5 votes), Jonah Jang (19 votes).

As at the time of filing this report Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Chairman of the Convention Committee had counted 1585 votes in favour of Atiku. 68 votes were deemed void.

Meanwhile, five persons have been rushed to Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium clinic due to rush for entry into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention venue, the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the health cases arose from the rush at the entry /exit point of the convention arena.

The security personnel had a Herculean task preventing hoodlums from taking advantage of the over crowdedness at venue, to enter into the arena.

The hoodlums unwittingly made things difficult for the genuine delegates to gain entry into the venue and this led to rush every now and then.

Reacting, Dr Malcolm Brisibe, SA to Gov. Siriake Dickson on Public Health and State Emergency who is at the venue with his medical team, said that out of the cases, some were treated at the clinic and discharged.

Brisibe said that the serious ones with complications were referred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for further medical attention.

Brisibe, who declined mentioning how many patients were referred to UPTH, said that his primary function was to take care of Bayelsa delegates.

”I came here (convention) to take care of the Bayelsa delegates but when the health challenges escalates, I opted to assist in the medical sub-committee’s work at the convention.

”Definitely in a gathering like this, there is bound to be casualties because of the presence of people with different health challenges

”But our primary function is to take care of the any health issue of delegates from Bayelsa,” he said.