Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said the quest by some presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form a united force is for the party to take over power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.

Dr. Saraki said this informed their decision to advocate for a consensus candidate among the aspirants.

The presidential hopeful spoke while briefing journalists after a closed-door meeting alongside his co-aspirants, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Senator Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, with Governor Douye Diri at Creek Haven Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Dr Saraki stressed that as an opposition party,  the PDP cannot wrest  power from the APC if it is not united.

According to him, the interest of Nigeria superseded their individual ambitions and that was why they embarked on the mission to consult the Bayelsa governor and other critical stakeholders on how to reach a consensus on the flagbearer of the party in next year’s presidential election.

Describing the PDP as the only hope to rebuild and reposition the country, the former Senate President noted that Nigeria was in bad shape and needed to be salvaged from the bad governance of the APC.

He said despite the propaganda by the ruling party, Nigerians were going through difficult times under the APC and that the only solution is for the PDP to retake power at the centre.

He thanked Governor Diri for the warm reception and for his words of encouragement

In a remark, Governor Douye Diri, urged the PDP to forge a united front if the party wants to win the forthcoming election.

Governor Diri insisted that the party must not be factionalized as a result of individual ambitions but rather come together to pursue the common purpose of winning the 2023 presidential election.

The Bayelsa helmsman, who promised to work for the success of the party at the polls, commended the aspirants for putting their individual interests aside for the good of the party.