2023 Presidential Race: PDP Flag-bearer Atiku Abubakar is on the Quest For The Best Running Mate.
On May 29, Atiku won the PDP presidential primary and has since been consulting with party leaders about who to be his best vice presidential pick.
Peter Obi, Atiku's running mate in the 2019 presidential election, withdrew from the People’s Democratic Party immediately before the presidential primary in which he was a candidate and is now the Labour Party's flag bearer.
Following the election of Atiku Abubakar as the party flag-bearer, the party has until June 17 to submit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) its list of candidates for all elective offices in the 2023 general elections.
While Mr. Wike's supporters insist on his nomination as Atiku's running mate, a majority of PDP leaders prefer Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the position, while the supporters of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike's nomination are causing a political deadlock in the search for the running mate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate as they insisted on choosing him as the presidential candidate running mate.
PDP presidential flag bearer is thought to prefer Mr. Okowa, but has been compelled to postpone his choice because Mr. Wike is said to offer a greater political organization and financial power to the ticket than Mr. Okowa.
It was also noted that Mr Okowa had supported Atiku at the primary and is from a major South-South State like Mr Wike.
The supporters of the Rivers governor are also referencing his roles in rescuing the party at numerous times of crises and how he had also supported PDP chapters across the country in states where the party does not run the government.
However, Mr Wike’s critics say he is not “presidential in conduct” and would be a dangerous deputy and divisive figure in the presidency should the party win the presidential election.
What was thought to put the party in a controversial state is the need to consider religion equilibrium and ethnical balance as Atiku is a Muslim from the North. It is best for the party to ensure that his vice running mate be a southern Christian.
