2023: Ex-PDP Governors Task Atiku On Choice Of Running Mate

Former Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to choose a competent and worthy running mate.

Naija News earlier reported that there is a possibility that either Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) or Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) may emerge as Atiku’s running mate in the 2023 general elections.

In a meeting with Atiku in Abuja on Friday, the former governors asked Atiku to clear the air on where he intends to pick his running mate from.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu asked Atiku to explain a statement attributed to him that his running mate will come from the governors.

“But I’m going to ask a question, sir, somebody said to me, can you confirm what Waziri Adamawa meant because yesterday he said his Vice President will come from the Governors.

“But he didn’t say, former Governors or current Governors. So in your response, please clarify further what that meant,” he said.

Speaking further, Aliyu said the former governors promised to work for Atiku and the opposition party’s victory in the forthcoming 2023 elections.

“We are here to reinstate our commitment, our loyalty and our readiness to work for the success of PDP, for the success of Atiku Abubakar as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.

Reacting, Atiku asked the ex-governors to work towards the party’s success, adding that the issue of his running mate is still being discussed.

He said: “If we can all put our energies in our respective states, local governments and even polling units, nothing should stop us from making sure that we return our party to power.

“Because there is no single political party that has got the kind of resource persons that we have got today. Let’s put behind whatever political disagreements that have occurred, between the consultants or between whose side you supported and which side you did not support. This is my appeal to all of you.”