Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday hits the ground running upon arrival in the U.S. after 13 years of abstaining from the country.

“Atiku hits the ground running”, tweeted celebrity journalist and politician Dele Momodu, shortly after the former Nigerian Vice President arrived in Washington, D.C. The tweet was accompanied with photos of Atiku holding meetings with various people.

Atiku’s Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibeh, had in a statement on Thursday night explained that his principal arrived at 8:20 p.m. Nigerian time and 4:20 p.m. Washington D.C. time.

Atiku, he said, would meet with the Nigerian business community in the U.S.

He is also expected to meet with U.S. government officials during the visit, Ibeh said.

“Yesterday, Abubakar met with the business community in Lagos at an interactive session to unveil his plans to get Nigeria working again.

“Thursday morning, he left Abuja accompanied by the Director-General of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and Senate President Bukola Saraki for the United States.

“Atiku Abubakar will in the course of his trip hold meetings with the U.S. government officials, the business community and the Nigerian community,” Ibeh said in the statement.

He disclosed that Atiku is expected to return to Nigeria tomorrow, Saturday, January 19.