PDP Says Atiku Has No Running Mate Yet; Denies Endorsing Wike

By Ayodele Oni

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has debunked the viral story that it has endorsed the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as its Vice Presidential candidate against 2023.

In a statement on Wednesday following the Wike story, the National Publicity Secretary of

PDP, Debo Ologunagba, said there is nothing like that. He said that it was at best, speculative.

The PDP spokesman maintained that its   Selection Committee, had Tuesday, met to fulfill its mandate of recommending a running mate for the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and had made no recommendations yet.

Another report had it that Wike has the ears of  members of the Committee to facilitate his emergence over another serving Governor Okowa of Delta state. But the Rivers State Governor, who was a Presidential aspirant, had vehemently insisted, all through his campaign to be the Candidate, that he would never accept the position of a Vice Presidential candidate.

Speaking on the development in Abuja, Wednesday, Ologunagba said reports in the media that the PDP has picked Wike could only be in the realm of rumour.

He said the National Working Committee is currently looking into the matter and consulting, in order to consider the best Vice Presidential candidate for the party in the 2023 elections.

“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.”

Ologunagba, who emphasized that PDP has kickstarted its process, informed that the NWC will meet, saying that it is expected that the advisory board will be considered.

“We do our things in processes, the process doesn’t just come like you press a computer and get an answer.

“We follow the process, because human elements are involved, with interests and concerns. We have considered all interests of the country, particularly in terms of unity and capacity.”