Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will screen nominees for the vice-presidential position, later today.
Atiku Abubakar had emerged victorious at the PDP’s Presidential Primary, which makes him the party’s flagbearer in the 2023 elections.
Read Also: PDP To Announce Atiku’s Running Mate Within 48 Hours — PDP Chairman
A chieftain of the party revealed to the PUNCH that contrary to reports, three candidates were shortlisted for the position, not one as reported by some newspapers.
According to him, those shortlisted include Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa; his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.
This came to the fore on Wednesday as supporters of Okowa and Wike disagreed over the party’s VP slot.
There were reports that a committee headed by the PDP Deputy Chairman, Ambassador Umaru Damagun, had on Tuesday nominated Wike as the running mate of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar when 13 out of the 17 members voted in favour of the Rivers State governor.
Read Also: PDP Reveals Ongoing Consultations Over Choice Of Running Mate
When contacted on Wednesday, the PDP spokesman, Debo Ologunagba said that the nomination of Wike remained a rumour.
He stated;
The party is going through its processes. When it comes in a name, it will be announced. We don’t rely on rumour, we don’t work on that, in the next couple of hours or probably just before the expiration of the time, we will come out with a position and the name will be announced.
But a member of the PDP advisory committee disclosed that three names were recommended by the panel.
According to the source, the three aspirants who were recommended would face the screening committee of the party before the final decision would be made known to the public.
The source said;
The matter is not in the hands of Atiku yet, When the committee members are done with their job, they will report back to the leadership of the party.
That committee recommended three people, not just one as is currently being speculated in the media.
But according to the Coalition of South-South and South-East Youth Forum, Okowa remains the best man for vice-presidential slot.
