The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will on Thursday (today) screen the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate of the party.
This emerged shortly after the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) held on Wednesday at the party national secretariat, Wadata Plaza Abuja.
Meanwhile, party chieftains from the South East geo-political zone are demanding that running mate to Atiku be given to them in the spirit of equity, fairness and balance.
It would be recalled that there have been controversies on the choice of Wike, following a linked video where the Rivers state governor said he will not be a Vice President.
However, in the mock election conducted by the PDP advisory council headed by Deputy National Chairman (North) Ambassador Umar Shehu Damagun, Wike was said to have come top ahead of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state .
The opponents to Wike as running mate to Atiku have uploaded a video of his media interviews now trending in which the Rivers state governor swore never to take Vice Presidential slot .
They argued that he should not be given the position having vowed not to accept the offer in the instance.
The party on Tuesday set up another committee to screen the potential vice presidential candidates. The new committee is headed by former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, while former Kogi governor, Captain Idris Wada, and former Aviation Minister Ostia Chidoka are members.
Others are: Binta Bello, Mutiat Adedoja, Austin Opara, Aisha Madawaki, George Ologun, Chidiebelu Mofus, Fidelis Tapgun and Akilu Indabawa who will serve as secretary.
A statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba said the National Working Committee (NWC) set up the committee pursuant to part V1, paragraph 14 of the Electoral Guidelines of the Party.
He said the party is still consulting and yet to take a position.
The Ikimi-led committee will meet on Thursday for the exercise.
Meanwhile, political stalwarts from the South East have demanded that running mate to Atiku be given to them in the spirit of equity, fairness and balance.
Former Enugu state Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim are being mentioned for the running mate.
According to a source, “Giving the position to South East will usher in peace and harmony in the PDP going into the 2023 elections instead of the South South that is already a battle field among the aspirants.”
However, Rivers State governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike on Wednesday dismissed a trending video
purporting that he intends dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A statement by Mr. Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant Media to the Rivers State Governor said: “Our attention has been drawn to a manipulated video circulating on Social Media, purporting that the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike intends to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“It will be recalled that in June 2021, Governor Wike was interviewed on Arise Television, following the defection of Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“During the interview, Governor Wike while reacting to reason given by Ebonyi State governor for his defection, dismissed it as untenable.
“The excerpt of the interview in circulation has been deliberately manipulated by some desperate and unscrupulous persons with obnoxious agenda.
“The intent of the video being circulated is intended to mislead the unsuspecting public, particularly members of the PDP.
“We, hereby urge the public to disregard the manipulated video.
Governor Wike has repeatedly maintained that he will never under any circumstances defect from the PDP, which has offered him the platform to excel in his political career.
“We urge the public to ignore the distorted video. Those behind it are desperately wicked and intend to mislead the public. Governor Wike remains a faithful, committed member of the PDP and will never leave it for cancerous APC.”
