PDP leaders divided over Atiku’s running mate

The battle for who becomes the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election is gathering momentum.

Daily Trust reliably gathered that the party in collaboration with the presidential candidate has instituted the process of arriving at a running mate that will be acceptable to the majority of the party supporters and Nigerians.

The source however said the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and the Board of Trustee (BoT) led by Senator Walid Jibrin are rooting for different candidates.

Among those being considered, Daily Trust gathered, are Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom state.

The BoT Chairman, Walid Jibrin in a statement had said the board is ready to assist the presidential candidate of the party to come up with an acceptable running mate from the southern part of the country.

The BoT Chairman said, “The BoT will assist the party and surely the wazirin Adamawa himself to come out with very acceptable Vice president from the southern Nigeria.”

But the source said that assistance might have pitched the BoT against the NWC that is trying to control who gets the nod to run with Atiku in 2023.

Wike came second behind Atiku in the just concluded party primary with 237 votes and considered a force in the push. (Daily Trust)