More Intrigues, Power Play On Atiku’s Running Mate As PDP Disowns Wike Mock Election, Sets Up C’ttee To Screen 3 S’south Govs

Selection of a running mate for PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is becoming more intriguing with so much power play by chieftains as the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Wednesday, dismissed reports that the party has settled for Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike following the mock election conducted by the party’s Advisory Committee to select the party’s vice-presidential candidate.

www.bigpenngr.com reports that rather than run with the outcome of the selection to end the impasse being faced in the selection process, the party leadership further constituted another committee to screen the three nominees recommended by the General Aliyu Gusau’s committee.

Reports say the Gusau-committee had recommended the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel for consideration.

But according to Vanguard report on Wednesday morning, the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, dismissed the media reports that the PDP has picked Wike, saying categorically the reports “could only be in the realm of rumour”.

He said the National Working Committee is currently looking into the matter and consulting, in order to consider the best vice presidential candidate for the party in the 2023 elections.

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“We have a process as a party, because we are organic. We follow through the processes. We recognize the importance of participatory democracy, ensuring that every stakeholder and organ of the party is involved in our decision-making process,”

“This is the beginning of the process, consideration and advisory body need to get to the level where, in consultation with the presidential candidate, they will deliberate on who is most suitable. That process is ongoing, so any report of a particular candidate at this point is probably premature,” he said.

“We do our things in processes, the process doesn’t just come like you press a computer and get an answer. We follow the process, because human elements are involved, with interests and concerns. We have considered all interests of the country, particularly in terms of unity and capacity,” he said.

A member of the party’s NWC disclosed that the choice to pick a running mate is a prerogative right of the presidential candidate to make whether the party made recommendation or not, saying that Atiku wants to carry the party along hence the selection process which has now become intriguing with so much power play.

Earlier, in a statement entitled; “PDP Constitutes Vice Presidential Candidate Screening Committee (VPSC)”, the party in a press release by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, had said; “Pursuant to Part VI, Paragraph 14 of the the Electoral Guidelines of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the nomination of the following Party members to serve on the Vice Presidential Candidate Screening Committee for the screening/verifying of the nominated Vice Presidential Candidate of our Party for the 2023 general elections.

The members of the Committee are as follows

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1. High Chief Tom Ikimi – Chairman

2.H.E. Capt. Idris I. Wada (rtd) – Member

3. Chief Osita Chidoka – Member

4. Rt. Hon. Binta Bello – Member

5. Chief Mrs. Alh. Mutiat Adedoja – Member

6. Rt. Hon. Austin Opara – Member

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7. Prof. Aisha Madawaki – Member

8. Mrs. Ayotunde George-Ologun – Member

9. Chief Mrs. Chidiebelu Mofus – Member

10. H.E. Fidelis Tapgun – Member

11. Dr. Akilu Indabawa- Secretary

Mr. Sunday Omobo – Administrative Secretary

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The screening exercise will hold at the National Working Committee (NWC) Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 10am.