By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

THE influence of money in the contest was vividly captured by the chairman of the Plateau State chapter of the party, Hon. Latep Dabang who promised that all the state’s delegates will vote for Atiku Abubakar because of the financial support he has always rendered to the party. “No Plateau delegate will vote for anybody apart from Atiku.”

The other aspirants in the contest, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Governor Rabiu Kwankwanso and Governor Rochas Okorocha, remarkably also have been throwing money into the Plateau State chapter as one other state official said.

Contradicting the chairman, the official who did not want to be named quipped “how can the Chairman say such thing?

Is it only Atiku that gave us money or will he force all of us to vote Atiku? What about Kwankwaso who gave us money to renovate the secretariat? What happens to Nda-Isaiah and others? The Chairman should speak for himself not all delegates.”

Financial war-chest

Rochas Okorocha, Muhammadu Buhari, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Atiku Abubakar and Sam Nda- Isaiah.

Support for Atiku was also rocketing not because of his large financial war-chest, but also on account of his past political role in fighting for democracy and notably in his principled stance against the third term script of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

But Atiku’s support for the party has, however, exceeded all other aspirants. Atiku has booked at least 4,000 hotel rooms to be provided gratis to the party’s delegates coming for the convention in Lagos. It is a gesture that Atiku had done in the past, notably, a month ago when the party had a mini-convention in Abuja during which the Atiku Campaign provided hotel rooms for several delegates and officials.

The Atiku campaign is, however, quick to emphasise that it is not bribing delegates as the hospitality is not a quid pro quo for votes, but campaign officials on the sidelines hope that such generosity and support for the party would not be easily forgotten.

The hospitality and support from the former vice-president, according to aides, is another strand to Atiku’s determination to fight for the survival of democracy in just the same way as he fought against third term. Indeed, aides insist that Atiku, win or lose would not abandon the party.

In the run up to the final contest, Atiku who has visited 35 states of the country was in a dead heat with Buhari in the pursuit of the ticket.

Buhari who came into the contest as the clear favourite with many stakeholders initially believing that the ticket should be given to the former head of state lately fought back against Atiku.

Few weeks ago, Buhari commenced on a state by state drive for delegates meeting delegates in strategic sessions in the same way that Atiku had done. Buhari was even bold to take the battle to Atiku at home and according to reports has won some strategic delegates from Adamawa including a top national official of the party who is working behind the scenes for Buhari.

Buhari according to Vanguard findings is in command of delegates from Rivers, Nasarawa, Katsina, Bauchi and Jigawa. Atiku is in clear lead in Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa.

Kwankwanso is said to be in command of Kano and Kogi States.

His hold in Kogi is through former Governor Audu Abubakar who has thrown his support towards him.

Okorocha is said to be in clear control of only Imo State. Atiku and Buhari are sharing delegates in Ondo, Niger, Ekiti, Osun and Bayelsa.

Though the influence of party leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is said to be tilting towards Buhari and as such will help to deliver the Southwest, Atiku is said to be fighting hard in Osun where his wife, Titi comes from and in Ondo where delegates are said not to be happy that Buhari did not visit them.

Atiku has criss-crossed 35 states of the country in pursuit of delegates.

Kwara was as at press time still undecided and all heads are waiting on Senator Bukola Saraki to give a direction on how the state would go, though there are indications that it would go the way of Buhari.