- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, opened up on the reason for not picking Nyesom Wike as running mate in 2023
- Atiku said Wike's name was number number on the list of options given to him by a committee in the party
- Legit.ng recalls that Atiku picked the then Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as his running mate
Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 7 years of experience covering metro, government policy, and international events
FCT, Abuja - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, said he did not pick the current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as his running mate because he was the second choice on the list.
Atiku said a committee gave him a list of three governors from the south-south to choose his running mate from.
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The former vice president said the committee submitted three names: then-Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as the first choice, Wike as the second, and then-Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel as the third.
As reported by Daily Trust, Atiku stated this in a yet-to-be-aired interview for a television show, Untold Stories, with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie.
According to Atiku, he decided to set up a committee because he was accused of not consulting with the party enough when he picked Peter Obi as his running mate in 2019.
“They said I did not consult with the party enough. So in 2023, I threw the whole thing to the party. I said, ‘Okay, set up a committee and recommend three people for me to pick as running mate.’
“So I picked number one.”
Legit.ng earlier reported that the reinstated PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, reacted to the coalition led by Atiku.
The ally to Wike said the PDP is not in any coalition and has not been invited to set up coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Anyanwu urged those talking about a coalition to join the PDP rather than join any coalition ahead of the 2027 election.
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Legit.ng also reported that Atiku disclosed how the coalition he announced will produce its presidential candidate in 2027.
Recall that Atiku recently disclosed that the coalition was ready to sack President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
The former vice president, in an interview, said there was a similar coalition in 2014, which led to the formation of the APC and eventually sacked the then incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Obasanjo, Atiku, others meet amid plot to sack Tinubu
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, was recently spotted with Atiku.
Also at the gathering was Peter Obi in honour of the colloquium organised to celebrate the 60th birthday anniversary of the former governor of Imo, Emeka Ihedioha.
The development came amid the announcement of a coalition by Atiku and the readiness of the coalition to sack President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
