On Thursday, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party intensified their efforts to choose presidential running mates.
The PDP formed a committee including its governors, members of the National Working Committee and Board of Trustees, as well as previous governors, to choose its vice-presidential candidate.
The committee convened in Abuja on Wednesday and Thursday. Debo Ologunagba, a spokesperson for the PDP, confirmed the committee’s formation to Newsmen last night.
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The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his Delta State counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa, are said to have escalated lobbying of PDP stakeholders in order to secure the position.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, met with northern governors on Thursday to begin the search for his running mate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission granted parties till June 17 to submit the names of their presidential candidates and running mates, while Tinubu met with northern governors.
The commission has extended the deadline for parties to hold primary elections from June 4 to June 9 on May 27.
It also set a deadline of June 17 for parties to submit their candidate lists.
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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the PDP presidential candidate on May 29, received 371 votes, while his nearest competitor, Wike, received 237 votes.
On Wednesday, Tinubu beat a number of candidates, including Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation, and Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice-President.
On Thursday, Anaedoonline.ng reported that Atiku had met with PDP governors in order to choose his running partner.
In an interview with Newsmen, Ologunagba stated that the PDP will name its vice-presidential candidate the following week.
He did not, however, share the names of individuals being considered for the running mate position.
He said, “Yes, we have set up a committee on the running mate; when it comes out with its decision, it would be announced. We don’t do things by speculations. There is a process, we don’t work without planning. We would follow due process, we consult, that’s what we are doing.
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“When we are done with consultations, you would hear the outcome. Whether they met today (Thursday), whether they didn’t meet, that’s not relevant. When they have done their work, you would know the outcome.”
When asked about the names of the committee members, Ologunagba stated, “You don’t need the names. All the organs of our party are represented: the National Working Committee, the Governors Forum, the Board of Trustees, and the Former Governors Forum are all represented. All the organs of the party and relevant stakeholders are involved in the consultations.”
On the efforts to reconcile the aspirants who lost during the primaries, the party said a reconciliation process was ongoing.
It was gathered that Wike and Okowa had reached out to their fellow governors as part of efforts to clinch the post.
A close source to Wike told Newsmen that the governor was in Abuja lobbying to be named Atiku’s running mate.
The source stated, “The governor is not in town as we speak. It is not out of place if he is pushing to become the running mate of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
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“But it will be unfair if he (Wike) is not picked as Atiku’s running mate going by his contributions to the party, both in terms of finance and other levels of support.
“Don’t forget that he came second in the PDP presidential primary in Abuja, so that tells you his pedigree,” he stated.
Kelvin Ebiri, the Special Assistant on Media to Wike kept mum over the choice of running mate for Atiku.
When contacted by one of our correspondents if his principal should be picked as the vice presidential running mate, although Ebiri picked his call, he did not speak.He also did not reply a text message sent to him
On his part, the Chief Press Secretary to the Delta State governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, confirmed that the governor was one the people being tipped as Atiku’s running mate.
Ifeajika said Okowa was eminently qualified for the post. He said, “Yes, they (governors) met yesterday and today, Thursday, in Abuja. Of course, it is no longer news that the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is among the people being tipped as the running mate.
“Okowa is one those being considered. He is not only eminently qualified but acceptable by all. If there is an election, all governors, even those in the APC, will attest that Okowa is the best man for the position. He has worked hard for it.”
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A source close to the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, told Newsmen that the governor believed the party should pick somebody who could mobilise votes for the party.
Meanwhile, the PDP presidential candidate on Thursday met with some former PDP governors.
Those who attended the meeting included Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo); Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun); Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu); Achike Udenwa (Imo); Theodore Orji (Abia); Celestine Omehia (Rivers); Ibrahim Idris (Kogi); Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Fidelis Tapgun (Plateau), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara); Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Boni Haruna (Adamawa)
Others were Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) Lyel Imoke (Cross River) Jim Nwobodo (Enugu); Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger).
The meeting which was held at Jimmy Carter, Asokoro, Abuja, focused on how to strengthen the opposition party amidst the crisis rocking some state chapters of the party.
Anaedoonline.ng also gathered that Atiku was also scheduled to meet with former ministers who served under the PDP administrations as part of moves to present a formidable front and get the input of stakeholders on the choice of a running mate ahead of the 2023 presidential poll.
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Atiku’s spokesman, Mr Paul Ibe, confirmed to one of our correspondents that the Thursday night parley was part of the ongoing consultations by the former vice-president to build a formidable party ahead of the polls.
This newspaper could not confirm if the meeting slated to hold at the Legacy House in Abuja started at 8pm as planned.
Meanwhile, a PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George, has said the running mate would be an individual that could assist the party to garner votes.
He said, “Definitely, it (running mate) must come from the South; South-West, South-East and South-South. They will be looking for the best man that will be able to assist the party; who will have character, respect for the rule of law and be fair to Nigerians.”
On the choice of the running mate, a PDP presidential aspirant, Sam Ohuabunwa, said the party would choose someone who could give the party leverage.
He added, “PDP will choose whoever they want between the party leadership and candidate; they will choose whoever they think will give them best electoral leverage, that’s what I think.
“I don’t understand who they will pick; my consideration is whoever will give them electoral leverage to win the election because it has to do with what will make them win the election in 2023.
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A former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Diran Odeyemi said Governor Wike as the running mate to Atiku would guarantee the party’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
According to him, Wike could rally support for the party in the South-East, South- West and the South-South where he hails from.
Odeyemi said, “I will be categorical with my comment. The best bet for the PDP is to pick Wike. Apart from the fact that he is capable and has shown intention, he is the only one that can assist the party. I am very sure he will get votes in the South-East, South-South and South-West. Their combinations would be good not only to get a victory for the party but to also bring development to the country.”
Meanwhile, the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and other members of the party’s National Working Committee on Thursday, visited Tinubu.
The APC national youths leader, Dayo Isreal, also took to the official Twitter handle to explain the purpose of their visit in a series of tweets.
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He stated, “Our National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, today led us on a courtesy visit to our Presidential Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu this afternoon. The full NWC are behind our candidate.”
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