Earlier this month, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as it’s candidate for next year’s presidential elections.
Following that announcement, all eyes were on who Atiku would pick as his running mate with various names being reported. One name that was seemingly a front runner in the race for the second name on the party’s ticket was Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. So it was a big shock to the public when Atiku decided on Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa instead.
According to former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, Atiku had originally “promised” to make Wike his running mate after he was won the PDP’s primaries.
He explained,
“Wike never said he wanted to be VP, but when Atiku visited him, he was the one who said, ‘I want you to be my VP’. He said that to Wike. If that then changes, is Wike not supposed to be told? Is he not supposed to know?”
Fayose didn’t end there, as he added that Atiku also ignored the recommendation of a committee set up by the party to pick his running mate.
Ayo Fayose and Nyesom Wike
READ MORE: Atiku Picks Ifeanyi Okowa As Running Mate for 2023 Elections
“PDP set up a committee to recommend a running mate for the candidate and the committee voted and picked Wike, but they didn’t comply with the recommendation of the committee.
If the party is now a one-man show, we will show them that we can resist it. We are with Wike 100 per cent.
When they need Wike’s money and Wike’s support, they will say, ‘Wike is good enough’. Wike has been injured, but we will remain with him. Whatever he does is what we would do; wherever he asks us to go is where we will go.”
Furthermore, When asked if he would support Atiku and Okowa if asked by Wike, the former governor vehemently disagreed.
He said, “Wike will never say we should support Atiku. Wike cannot come out to say he is supporting Atiku. I dare him to say so; because he knows that whatever he says will haunt him forever. If Wike supports Atiku, we will abandon him.”
