By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye,
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has announced Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State as his running mate.
Atiku made the announcement at a meeting attended by PDP executives at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, said a 17-member committee had been set up by the party to pick a running mate.
He said the committee had submitted three names to Atiku to choose from and that the final decision, however, Ayu said, was Atiku’s.
Governor Okowa’s nomination was announced and confirmed by Atiku himself on Thursday at an unveiling event of his running mate held in Abuja.
Speaking at the announcement event, Atiku said making a choice between the three names had been a difficult decision.
He also noted that some of the qualities he looked out for include someone who understands the enormity of the challenges facing the country and one who has demonstrated, from experience, that he can proffer some solutions.
‘Congratulations’
Okowa had arrived at the PDP headquarters in a celebratory mood.
Some party members welcomed him into the building with the words ‘congratulations’.
Atiku while speaking on his choice said his Vice President must fulfil the qualities to be president and one that could complement him as a President.
He added that he should symbolize the quality to unite Nigeria, who is not afraid to speak and give advice on governance in the country.
He also added that his running mate must understand what he described as the depth of rots in the Nigerian system, with an understanding of the critical needs of economic growth.
Following the announcement, Okowa will thereafter be screened by a committee already setup for that purpose.
Recall that Wike, who has been the foreman on the radar of the PDP heavyweights and was speculated to be selected as the vice-presidential candidate of the main opposition party, was rumoured to have been selected as Atiku’s running mate.
But the party, yesterday (Wednesday), dismissed reports that its Selection Committee has settled for the Rivers State governor as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said reports in the media that the PDP has picked Wike could only be in the realm of rumour, saying the National Working Committee the was looking into the matter and consulting, in order to consider the best vice-presidential candidate for the party in the 2023 elections.
As part of moves to press down its process, the NWC of the PDP met in Abuja on Wednesday at 11 AM, where the advisory board resumed intense deliberations.
Recall that the PDP selection committee had recommended the Rivers State governor after 13 of 17 members, who attended the meeting at the PDP National Secretariat, yesterday voted in favour of Wike. At the meeting, three members voted for others, while the chairman, who can only vote when there is a tie, did not vote.