In a poll conducted on SaharaReporters’ Twitter page on Sunday, 49 percent of respondents said they would vote for President Muhammadu Buhari over Atiku Abubakar, who has been floated as a potential presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, if the presidential election were held today.
POLL: @Mbuhari or @atiku
— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) November 26, 2017
If Nigeria's Presidential Election Holds Today Between Abubakar Atiku as a candidate of @OfficialPDPNig And Muhammadu Buhari As the candidate of @APCNigeria Who Would You Vote For?
A total of 21,704 Twitter users participated in the poll.
26 percent said they would vote for Mr. Abubakar, while 25 percent said they would vote for neither candidate.
It would be recalled that the former vice president dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last week, and there have been indications that he would formally defect to the opposition PDP and run for president on the PDP ticket.
Neither Mr. Buhari nor Mr. Abubakar has announced plans to run for president in 2019.
Some respondents, dissatisfied with Mr. Buhari's tenure, expressed support for a potential Atiku Abubakar ticket.
Atiku is productive and employed thousands of youths working for him, he has an edge over that ancestor called Buhari. Think 2019, think Atiku.
— Omo Yoruba Nimi o (@OmoYorubaNim) November 27, 2017
@Adekoyabee @MBuhari @atiku ATIKU will make a whole lot of sense than the inept buhari who knows nothing other than Order!
— Segun Adeoyeâ (@Seagad01) November 26, 2017
Buhari is reported to be a man if integrity but I prefer @Atiku. He's smart and won't b tossed by aides
— Dan Atim ð³ð¬ (@dan_Atim1) November 28, 2017
Atiku Abubakar of course. How can I vote a stationary person like PMB who still maintain 150 cows from 2003 till date with no increase or reduction.
— Tsokwa Ezekiel Rimam (@TsokwaR) November 28, 2017
Buhari is a scam, a repackaged waste product presented to deceive Nigerians. I believe Atiku will do much better than him. Quote me.
— Dada-Stephen [DST] (@MrDada_Stephen) November 26, 2017
While the standing president received the highest tally of votes, he failed to secure a majority, polling in at 49 percent. Several respondents seemed to view Mr. Buhari as the lesser of the two evils, with many condemning Mr. Abubakar's alleged corrupt track record. Others were averse to the idea of any PDP candidate winning the election.
Easy choice... Buhari remains the lesser evil just like he was against Oga Jonah. Folks like Atiku will only worsen our situation and only God knows what these men are still looking for despite their mammoth wealth. Only death truly will satisfy man!
— Bola (@naijabawo) November 27, 2017
I voted @MBuhari because he remained the lover of youth and he will soon assent NPC bill. Thanks our amiable President. @MBuhari till 2023
— Ola Tunde (@Ola_Tunde26) November 27, 2017
The kind of people PDP has are people like Sule Lamido who is standing trial on corruption charges with his sons, and Atiku who can't dare go to US.
— Abu Zaid naija (@abuzaidnaija) November 27, 2017
May be you guys don't understand the degree of attrocity pdp committed for the 16yr of rule, Nigeria is backward like 10 time and you are still clamouring for such govt.i pity this generation with shallow thinking
— olaleye Muhammed (@molaleye13) November 27, 2017
Will vote for Buhari, Atiku has nothing to offer Nigerians
— Adegboyega Odubote (@Wanchai72) November 28, 2017
A quarter of voters, however, were not enthusiastic about either potential candidate and would vote for neither if the election were held today.
At this point I am hugely disappointed in Nigerians that 'none of the above' isn't 100%. Clearly we are a country that deserves all that has come to us. Wake up Nigerians. We have no leaders in these people. Stop recycling bad leaders.
— Ann Adefuye (@nittyoung) November 28, 2017
@yesamwamuo @MBuhari @atiku God forbid that it will be between these two!!!! What??? With all the intelligence &intellect
— T.A.B (@unicornguytunde) November 26, 2017
We must keep up the search for the true Nigerian Leader. Detribalized, competent and has a penchant for service and results.
— Voters Network (@voters_network) November 26, 2017
@SaharaReporters more candidates please not just this two
— Murtala Muhammad (@Jikannenne) November 27, 2017
None of the above ....we keep saying we are the leaders of tomorrow until we'll also grow old and our children will carry on the ministry
— Obinna Oguanya (@AlexObinna7) November 28, 2017
May we not be so unfortunate as 2 have such poor options as was d case in 2015. Atiku belongs with our dark past of unchecked looting & impunity. We say never again. PMB means well but lacks d vision & drive 2 take us 4ward. War on corruption has been more noise than action.
— hoch-zeit1607 (@zeit1607) November 26, 2017
Following up on the poll, SaharaReporters in Lagos asked Nigerians who they would vote for if the election were held between Mr. Buhari and Mr. Abubakar.
Watch the video below: