Atiku touched down in company of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, amongst other PDP stalwarts on Saturday.
Many of his supporters were seen dancing and singing his praises, before he stopped over at the Legacy House in Maitama, Abuja.
Within the Legacy House compound, Atiku mounted a makeshift rostrum, from where he addressed his supporters.
He said: “I am going to refresh and come for the presidential debate.”
The presidential debate organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) will hold today, Saturday January 19, in Abuja.
The debate is scheduled to hold by 7pm at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the same venue where the vice-presidential debate held on Friday, December 14, 2018.
It will be transmitted live on all BON member stations and its affiliates and streamed live on all social media platforms.
Only five political parties have been selected to participate.
They are: the Allied Congress Party Of Nigeria (ACPN), the Alliance For New Nigeria (ANN), All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and The Young Progressive Party (YPP).
This means the candidates expected at the debate are President Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, Oby Ezekwesili, Fela Durotoye and Kingsley Moghalu.
