I don’t regret ignoring wike as my running mate in 2023 – Atiku
If you contest, you will lose again Says Wike
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has insisted that he has no regret ignoring former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party.
In June 2022, Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), revealed Ifeanyi Okowa, the former Delta Governor as his vice-presidential running mate for the upcoming election.
Atiku, who had secured the party’s nomination in the primary election, had been expected by many to choose Nyesom Wike, who finished second in the primary.
However, Atiku’s decision to select Okowa instead sparked disappointment among Wike’s supporters, who strongly opposed the choice.
Atiku explained that after facing criticism for not involving the party enough in selecting Peter Obi as his running mate in 2019, he chose to consult with the party more thoroughly in 2023.
“At the time, I asked President Obasanjo whether he had anyone in mind. His first suggestion was Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, but I pointed out that she was not a member of our party. He also mentioned Charles Soludo, but he was also outside the party.
“I told the party to set up a committee and recommend three people, and I chose the first person on the list.
“In 2023, I threw the whole thing (nomination of vice-presidential candidate) to the party. I said, ‘set up a committee and recommend three people for me to pick as running mate’.
“They set up a committee and came with recommendations. Number one to three. I picked number one. The number two was Wike and the other one was Udom. He (referring to Wike) was not the number one.”
