2023: PDP To Announce Atiku’s Running Mate Within 2 Days — Natnl Chairman

By Daniel Dafe

Iyiocha Ayu, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is optimistic that the party and its standard flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, would, within the next two days, announce a running mate ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

Ayu gave this assurance in his opening remarks at the meeting with members of the consultative committee set up to assist Atiku to choose a running mate.

According to the THE PUNCH, Ayu held a closed-door meeting with some stakeholders of the party at the party’s national secretariat.

He explained that the meeting was in furtherance of consultations aimed at arriving at a choice that Nigerians would be glad to elect into office.

“The presidential candidate of our party would have been here, but this morning he suddenly dashed somewhere,” he said.

He apologised on the party flagbearer’s behalf, saying if he comes early, he will join us. But we will go ahead with the assignment he has given us.

ALSO READ: BREAKING: Okowa Loses To Wike, As Rivers Gov. Emerges Running Mate To Atiku

“The candidate wrote to us, as the administrative arm of the party, on the choice of his running mate.

“Various organs of the party are well-represented in his committee — the National Working Committee, the Governors Forum, the National Assembly, and former governors who have put forward their candidates.

“This deliberation will be chaired by my able deputy, Ambassador Umaru Damagum.

“I wish you a successful deliberation and I hope you come up with a conclusion between tomorrow and Friday.

“Our presidential candidate, this time, has decided to carry everybody along unlike 2019 when he didn’t consult widely in his choice of running mate.”

The meeting has the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom; former Senate President, David Mark; former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko; former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, and Senator Philip Aduda among others, in attendance.

Political parties have till Friday, June 17, 2022, to submit the names of their presidential candidates and their running mates.

Meanwhile, the committee set up by the leadership of the PDP, to pick Atiku Abubakar’s running mate has picked Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

Wike is said to have floored Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta state governor to emerge Atiku’s running mate.

Oasis Magazine had reported early Tuesday that Atiku’s backers preferred and picked Governor Okowa, adding that the feedback from the committee was awaited.

In another twist, fresh facts show that it may not yet be uhuru for Wike.

A Press Statement dated Tuesday and signed by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, said that PDP has constituted a Vice Presidential Candidate Screening Committee (VPSC)

At the time of filing this report, Okowa’s men had gone to town with this statement as proof that Delta’s governor was still very much in the race to becoming Atiku’s running mate.

The statement read in part: “Pursuant to Part VI, Paragraph 14 of the the Electoral Guidelines of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the nomination of the following Party members to serve on the Vice Presidential Candidate Screening Committee for the screening/verifying of the nominated Vice Presidential Candidate of our Party for the 2023 general elections.”

The members of the Committee are as follows-

1. High Chief Tom Ikimi – Chairman

2.H.E. Capt. Idris I. Wada (rtd) – Member

3. Chief Osita Chidoka – Member

4. Rt. Hon. Binta Bello – Member

5. Chief Mrs. Alh. Mutiat Adedoja – Member

6. Rt. Hon. Austin Opara – Member

7. Prof. Aisha Madawaki – Member

8. Mrs. Ayotunde George-Ologun – Member

9. Chief Mrs. Chidiebelu Mofus – Member

10. H.E. Fidelis Tapgun – Member

11. Dr. Akilu Indabawa- Secretary

Mr. Sunday Omobo – Administrative Secretary

“The screening exercise will hold at the National Working Committee (NWC) Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 10am,” the statement added.