Barring any unexpected events, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike could be selected as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s running partner.
According to the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, June 8, the former vice president has offered the position to the Rivers State governor. Wike came in second place in the party’s new standard-bearer primary.
It was rumoured that Atiku, who was also the PDP’s candidate in the 2019 election, would have announced Wike; as his running mate had it not been for resistance from other state governors.
As of Wednesday, efforts were in high gear to clear the way for the governor of Rivers State to be named.
The efforts were spearheaded by Governors Sam Ortom (Benue); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); as well as Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) who were said to be mounting pressure on their colleagues to accept Wike as the running mate.
The three governors in a car driven personally by Makinde, on Wednesday, went to Atiku’s residence in Abuja; where they were thought to have briefed him on the progress; in the move to get the buy-in of other governors on the running mate issue.
Wike was also present in a meeting; that was later confirmed by the presidential candidate in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle, saying:
Governors Nyesom Wike, @seyiamakinde, Samuel Ortom and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi came calling on a courtesy visit; before my meeting with the @OfficialPDPNig Governors Forum.
Slowly but surely, the seeds of unity are being planted in our party. – AA
Governors Nyesom Wike, @seyiamakinde, Samuel Ortom and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi came calling on a courtesy visit before my meeting with the @OfficialPDPNig Governors Forum. Slowly but surely, the seeds of unity are being planted in our party. -AA pic.twitter.com/LWWOa2Ts9W
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) June 8, 2022
The meeting of the three governors with Atiku was a hint that progress had been made on Wike’s selection.
Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP’s national chairman, also met with governors at the Legacy House in Maitama; where the presidential candidate bared his soul about his running mate.
Later, Aminu Tambuwal, the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and the governor of Sokoto State, told reporters that the question of the presidential candidate’s running mate was discussed.
He said Atiku and Ayu left the governors to continue the process of talks; on the way forward as the election campaign for 2023 approaches.
