ABUJA, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's Senate leader Bukola Saraki on Thursday declared his intention to contest the presidency in the 2019 national election.
"I hereby announce my intention to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the coming General Elections in 2019 on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP)," said Saraki, the third-ranked political leader of the west African country after President Muhammadu Buhari and vice president Yemi Osinbajo.
"I do so with the firm conviction that I have what it takes to secure inclusive growth for Nigeria and Nigerians," he said at a meeting in Abuja.
On July 31, a month ago, the Senate leader left the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) party for PDP, saying he was "forced out by forces within the party."
Upon joining the PDP, the party appointed him as its new national leader.
Earlier this month, Saraki had hinted during an interview that he would contest against President Buhari who is seeking a second term of office in the February 2019 election.
To emerge as the PDP presidential candidate at the general election, Saraki would, however, need to contest at the party's primaries on Oct. 5 and 6.
Several other political heavyweights in Nigeria, including former vice president Atiku Abubakar, have expressed interest in vying for the opposition party's presidential ticket.
On Wednesday, Saraki met behind closed doors with Nigeria's erstwhile president, Goodluck Jonathan who is also a high-ranking member of the PDP.
