News / politics

PDP panel okays Nyesom Wike as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate

A Panel has recommended Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as running mate to Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

It took the decision after a marathon meeting of the National Advisory Committee, an ad-hoc panel set up by the party leadership to recommend a suitable running mate for the candidate, took the decision yesterday.

It was gathered that Wike was picked following a voice vote.

He polled 16 votes out of 20. Three other governors: Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), were dropped for the Rivers State Governor.

The panel is chaired by PDP Deputy National Chairman (North), Ambassador Umar Damagum.

Other members include PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature; and Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi).

Also on the panel are former Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger).

Senator Philip Aduda (FCT), Reps Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu and former Senate President David Mark are also members.

It was gathered that Abubakar had on May 30 offered Wike the vice presidential slot, but the governor was said to have pleaded for time to enable him to make consultations.

It was further learnt that Governor Ortom was consulted by Wike.

According to sources, Ortom encouraged Wike to accept the offer.

The Nation.…

News / politics

Tinubu demanded to be my vice president as ACN presidential candidate — Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on members of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party to be united in working towards the victory of party in 2023.

Abubakar spoke in an interactive session with BoT members to seek their support for his presidential aspiration in Abuja.

He said anything short of victory would not be good for the party.

He said that the 2023 general election offered the party the opportunity to return to power. He said: “I am worried and you should be worried too that if we do not win, it means we will be in opposition again for the next eight years.

“By the next eight years, I don’t know how many will be left in politics and it may even ultimately lead to the death of the party because people gravitate, particularly in developing countries, towards governments.

“Ordinary people naturally gravitate towards government.

“So this is a very, very crucial and historical moment in history, for our survival.

“I want you to think about it.

“We are now at a crucial moment in this country.

“Many of you here, it is either we retire together or we move on together.”

The former vice president said that PDP administration had from 1999 to 2007 had remarkable achievements that has not been matched by any subsequent administration.

Abubakar said that PDP would scored more votes in 2023 if the BoT members worked together.

He said: “Somebody said that we recorded 12 million votes during the last election.

“Those are not only my votes.

“Those were our votes.

“In achieving or recording those 11 million votes, it was all of us and I believe if we work together again, we can surpass those votes.”

Abubakar dismissed insinuations that he was working against the possible zoning of the PDP presidential ticket to the South East.

He said: “In the party, we invented and formulated this zoning policy simply because we wanted every part of this country to have a sense of belonging and I personally have …