‘His claim is totally false’ -Party leader
One of the leaders of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has responded to former Nigerian Vice President and the party’s 2023 Presidential candidate, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s claim that his choice of running mate was decided by the party.
It would be recalled that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had in recent statement said that his choice of former governor of Delta state, HE, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was determined by the Committee set up by the PDP to pick his running mate in 2023.
According to Atiku, he picked Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate because the Committee set up by the PDP to select Presidential Running Mate for the 2023 election “ranked Okowa as the top choice, with Wike in second place and former Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel in third. So I picked number one.”
But in a swift reaction, one of the top leaders of the PDP countered Atiku’s claims, describing it as “…a big lie”.
According to the party leader who did not wish to be named in this report, Atiku Abubakar took a unilateral decision in total disregard to the committee’s advice.
“It is not true that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was the first choice of running mate recommended by the Advisory Committee set up by the party. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s choice of running mate was totally his sole discretion”.
The report of the Advisory Committee for the selection of 2023 presidential running mate as sighted by our correspondent had the then governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike as the first choice.
Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state came second, while the then governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel was recommended by the committee as third choice.
