A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) panel has recommended Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as the running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku and Wike
It was gathered that Wike was the preferred choice of most members of the party’s committee set up to assist Atiku in choosing a running mate against Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Sources said the committee comprising former and serving governors, members of the party’s National Working Committee, and members of the Board of Trustees, was established last week.
A source at the party’s headquarters said members of the panel, in a meeting on Tuesday, cast votes to decide a running mate and in the end, Mr Wike polled 16 votes to defeat Mr Okowa who scored three votes.
The majority of the panel members were said to have voted for Wike over Okowa and the Akwa Ibom governor, Emmanuel Udom, who was also on the list for consideration.
“Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has been chosen by the committee. He was overwhelmingly voted for by the committee. Majority of the members see him as the ideal person to be the running mate to Atiku.
“You saw his showing at the primaries. The party leaders believe in his capacity and they have chosen him,” a source said.
Those at the meeting which was chaired by the Deputy National Chairman, North, Ambassador Umaru Damagun, were Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).
Others are former governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers) Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) and the minority leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, among others.
Speaking before members of the panel went into the closed-door meeting on Tuesday, Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the PDP, said the party is expected to announce Atiku’s running mate within 48 hours.
“I wish you a successful deliberation and I hope you come up with a conclusion between tomorrow and Friday,” Ayu had said.
KanyiDaily had also reported that Bola Tinubu had penciled down the name of Kashim Shettima, who played a critical role in his campaign, as his running mate.
