Wike, Okowa, and Udom Shortlisted as PDP’s VP Candidates
As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finalizes the running mate for its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party may contemplate appointing a current governor to the office of Vice President ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
After securing the ticket, Atiku was expected to name a running partner who would be acceptable to all factions of the party, someone who could mobilize resources and sell the party in areas where he had sway.
Many had thought that designating a running mate would be as simple as stepping into a grocery store and picking products off the shelf as long as cash was in the pocket after the presidential convention on May 28, 2022, but that has not been the case.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is on pins and needles about the sensitive prospect of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, a source close to the process told The Guardian that in the PDP, the option is narrowing to serving governors in the Southeast and South-South regions.
Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia are the party’s governors in the
The governors of Rivers and Akwa Ibom, as well as Atiku, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, former Speaker and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, contested the presidential primary.
Top contenders in the race were Atiku, Wike, Tambuwal, and Saraki, but as the race neared its conclusion, Tambuwal stepped down and surrendered his delegates to Atiku, shifting the balance and giving the former Vice President center stage. Atiku gained momentum and coasted home to a resounding victory. Wike came in second, and he screamed his reservations, implying betrayal.
Since then, efforts have been made to alleviate any negative feelings that may have arisen as a result of the primary, including ensuring that the party takes advantage of the opportunity to repair and heal wounds. On that basis, the committee set up by the party to assist Atiku in choosing a running mate is working on a wide framework that would take into account all of the candidates.
