Officially declaring his intention to run for in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Tuesday, four months after dumping the All Progressives Congress , the former Vice President said his decision to make the announcement in Rivers State was because he believes that the  State Governor Nyesom Wike represents what he represented in 1998/99 as the live wire of the PDP.

Reacting to this ,Governor Wike, described the former VP as a presidential candidate feared by the APC adding that all genuine members of the party are its live wire

According to Governor Wike, the PDP is not just interested in seizing power in 2019, it is out to rescue Nigeria from what he described as a period of maladministration.

The Governor called on other aspirants of the party to do nothing to jeopardise its chances in the 2019 general elections.

Mr Abubakar, who contested against President Muhammadu Buhari for the APC presidential ticket for the 2015 general elections, resigned from the APC in November 2017.

In his resignation letter, he accused the APC of embracing unconstitutionality and of failing to keep its promises to Nigeria.

On December 3, 2017, he announced his return to the PDP.