Atiku: Why I Picked Okowa Over Wike as Running Mate for 2023 Election

Atiku Abubakar clears the air and reveals the reasons he picked Okowa over Wike.

The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) former Vice-presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has finally revealed why he didn’t not select the current Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

Atiku won over Wike in the PDP primaries and many speculated he would pick Wike as his running mate. However, there was a dramatic twist as Ifeanyi Okowa, former Delta State Governor was chosen.

Speaking with newsmen over the choice of a running mate. Atiku stated that he had no regret over the choice despite losing the election to the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was significantly helped by Wike.

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Recall that Daily Report Nigeria reported that the sharp dissension in PDP that exists to date started as a result of the PDP 2023 Presidential ticket choice, which was further fueled by the rejection of Wike as the Presidential running mate.

However, in an interview with Untold Stories, Atiku clarified the reasons behind the choice of Okowa over Wike.

He stated that during the 2019 presidential election, he was accused by the PDP party leaders of a lack of proper consultation before picking the then-former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi as his running mate.

In a bid to please the party, he left the decision of the 2023 running mate in the hands of the PDP leadership.

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Atiku stated that the party submitted three names for him, Ifeanyi Okowa who appeared first on the list, Nyesom Wike appearing second, and Emmanuel Udo, the former Akwa Ibom Governor appearing third on the list.

Atiku stated that he went with the first person on the list as he believed the person appeared to be the Party’s most favoured choice having been at the top of the list.

“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 a running mate. So I picked number one.” Atiku stated dismissing reports that he chose Okowa over Wike because of personal sentiments.