*With full backing of Abraka people
Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has emerged the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Okowa’s nomination was announced and confirmed by Atiku himself on Thursday at an unveiling event of his running mate held in Abuja.
Atiku, while speaking on his choice, said his Vice President must fulfill the qualities to be president and one that could complement him as President.
He added that the VP should symbolize the quality to unite Nigeria, who is not afraid to speak and give advice on governance in the country.
He also added that his running mate must understand what he described as the depth of rots in the Nigerian system, with understanding of critical needs of economic growth.
Following the announcement, Okowa will thereafter be screened by a committee already setup for that purpose.
Wike, who has been the foreman in the radar of the PDP heavyweights was speculated to be selected as the vice presidential candidate of the main opposition party, was rumoured to have been selected as Atiku’s running mate.
But the party, yesterday (Wednesday), dismissed reports that its Selection Committee has settled for the Rivers State governor as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
The National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said reports in the media that the PDP had picked Wike could only be in the realm of rumour, saying the National Working Committee is looking into the matter and consulting, in order to consider the best vice presidential candidate for the party in the 2023 elections.
Reports said the PDP selection committee had recommended the Rivers State governor after 13 of 17 members, who attended the meeting at the PDP National Secretariat, voted in favour of Wike. At the meeting, three members voted for others, while the chairman, who can only vote when there is a tie, did not vote.
Meanwhile, at the keenly-contested PDP primary, Wike scored 237 against the 371 secured by Atiku, who won the party ticket.
As part of moves to press down its process, the NWC of the PDP met in Abuja on Wednesday at 11am, where the advisory board resumed intense deliberations.
Before now, leaders and elders from Abraka in Ethiope East LGAs of Delta State had canvassed support for the emergence of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking under the aegis of Concerned Abraka People in Politics (CAPP), the group said Okowa is]s a loyal party man and possess the right quality and experience for the top political office.
The leaders of CAPP, in a statement jointly signed by Dr. Kings Okpako, Professor Andrew Ekakitie, Hon. Anthony Ajaino, and Hon. Anthony 0. Edafiogho, also slammed a former member of the State Assembly representing Ethiope East, Evance Ochuko lvwurie, for allegedly seeking to block the governor’s chances of emerging the presidential running mate of Atiku Abubakar.
The statement reads in part: “Governor Okowa is eminently qualified to hold the position of the Vice president of the Federal republic of Nigeria if our great Party, the PDP so deemed it fit. Therefore we are solidly behind the governor in his quest.
“Governor Okowa has been nice to Abraka Community and its people since he became governor of Delta State.
We, hereby, admonish our fellow kinsmen (Ivwurie) to desist from any manner of calumnious campaign.
“We wholeheartedly condemn his reckless vituperation. The actions are entirely his own and not a representation of the mood o the community.”