Atiku explains why he didn’t pick Wike as running mate – Atiku opens up.

Atiku explains why he didn’t pick Wike as running mate – Atiku opens up.

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed why he did not select former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as his running mate in 2023.

Recall that Wike lost the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket for the 2023 election to Atiku.

Many had expected Wike to be chosen as the former VP’s deputy in the election. However, he picked former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa instead.

Many party stakeholders believe that Atiku’s decision led to the ongoing conflict between him and Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).

In an upcoming interview for a television show, Untold Stories, with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, set to air today, Wednesday, Atiku recalled how being criticized by party leaders in 2019 for not consulting widely before choosing former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi as his running mate in 2019.

“They said I did not consult with the party enough. So in 2023, I threw the whole thing to the party. I said, ‘Okay, set up a committee and recommend three people for me to pick as a running mate”, he said.

The former VP noted that the committee submitted three names with Ifeanyi Okowa as the first choice, Wike as the second, and former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel as the third.

“So I picked number one,” he said, adding that his decision not to pick Wike was simply because he was the second choice on the list.

However, Atiku, who had run for the presidency a record six times, said he had no regrets about not picking Wike.

“No, not at all,” he said.

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