The chants led to riots, as Atkiu’s supporters picked offence, leading to a clash that the Police resolved by firing gunshots into the air.
Vice President Atiku Abubakar was the one submitting expression-of-interest and nomination forms at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but it was supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari who were chanting ‘Sai Baba’ at the occasion.
The chants led to riots, as Atkiu’s supporters picked offence, leading to a clash that the Police resolved by firing gunshots into the air.
“It is true that there was crowd trouble but it worsened when some unknown men emerged from nowhere, brandishing machetes and shouting Sai Baba,” a prominent PDP member who witnessed the occurrence told SaharaReporters.
“It was totally expected; it caused a riot. The only way the Police could have quelled it was to fire gunshots into the air.”
Atiku subsequently went on Twitter to express his happiness with the conclusion of formalities of his interest in the presidential race, writing: "I have just submitted my nomination form to the @OfficialPDPNig to officially declare my intention to seek the nomination of the party to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2019 elections."
Should Atiku clinch the PDP ticket, he will go against APC’s Buhari at the February 2019 presidential election.