By Tosin Olatokunbo
Finally, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar has picked Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta state as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election. The development has, therefore, put an end to suggestions that he will select Nyesom Wike, the Governor of Rivers state for the position.
The former vice president, who emerged as PDP flag bearer recently personally made the announcement on Thursday, beating the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for political parties to file in the names of their vice pesident nominee.
Earlier on Wednesday, reports emerged that Atiku had selected Wike, who lost the keenly contested PDP Presidential ticket to him, as his running mate. The party later issued a statement debunking the report, but said Wike was qualified to be Atiku’s running mate.
Speaking the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said reports was untrue, and that the party ws still deliberating on who would run with Atiku as Vice president.
Ologunagab said, “We have a process as a party, because we are organic. We follow through the processes. We recognize the importance of participatory democracy, ensuring that every stakeholder and organ of the party is involved in our decision-making process.
“This is the beginning of the process, consideration and advisory body need to get to the level where, in consultation with the presidential candidate, they will deliberate on who is most suitable. That process is ongoing, so any report of a particular candidate at this point is probably premature.”
Meanwhile, Governor Wike has denied report that he has dumped the PDP. Wike, in a statement signed by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, reacted to a viral video that he has dumped his party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Ebiri said the video was a wicked plot by the enemies to mislead Nigrians.
“Governor Wike has repeatedly maintained that he will never, under any circumstances, defect from the PDP, which has offered him the platform to excel in his political career.
“We urge the public to ignore the distorted video. Those behind it are desperately wicked and intend to mislead the public. Governor Wike remains a faithful, committed member of the PDP and will never leave it for the cancerous APC,” the statement said.
