The Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) has reportedly picked Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike as Atiku Abubakar running mate.
Wike emerged as the running mate to Atiku the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after members of the panel, in a meeting on Tuesday at the party’s headquarters cast votes to decide a running mate
In the end, Mr Wike polled 16 votes to defeat Mr Okowa who scored 3 votes, DAILY GIST learnt.
The panel, comprising former and serving governors, members of the party’s National Working Committee and members of the Board of Trustees, was established last week.
The party is expected to make an official announcement of the Rivers State governor as the running mate.
The committee was earlier given the task to come up with three names for consideration as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate, by the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The Committee listed Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom state, before finally settling for Governor Wike.
His “victory” comes hours after the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, said the panel will choose a running mate in 48 hours.
Although Mr Wike, a presidential aspirant, had initially said he did not want to be vice president, it is unclear whether he now wants the position.
It was gathered that members of the governor’s team earlier were putting pressure on the committee and the party to pick him as running mate as a way of compensating him for his defeat at the presidential primary in May.
The National Chairman of the PDP Iyorchia Ayu, while addressing the committee headed by deputy national Chairman, Umaru Damagun, earlier, tasked the committee to come up with Atiku’s running mate for the party’s consideration.
Ayu had stated that the PDP Presidential candidate wrote the party to come up with their choice of his running mate
He disclosed that Atiku who would been at the meeting , was unavoidably absent because he “dashed out”
According to him, “ the presidential candidate of our party would have been here but this morning he suddenly dashed somewhere, he apologised and if he comes early, he will join us but we will go ahead with the assignment he has given us.
“The candidate wrote to us as the administrative arm of the party on the choice of his running mate.
He noted that Atiku ensured that the various organs of the party are well represented in his committee, including members of the national working committee, (NWC) and the governors forum
Others include members of the National Assembly and the former governors which are to put forward their candidate
“This deliberation will be chaired by my able deputy Umaru Damagun
“I wish you a successful deliberation and I hope you come up with a conclusion between tomorrow and Friday.
He noted that the “presidential candidate this time has decided to carry everybody along unlike 2019 when he didn’t consult widely in his choice of running mate.
Members of the committee include former Senate President, David Mark, House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, Bauchi State Governor,
Bala Mohammed and Philip Aduda
Others include former governor of Niger State, Babagida Aliyu, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, former Cross Rivers State Governor, liyel Imoke and former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko,
Others are the PDP National Secretary, Sam Nwayanu, National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature.
