Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has explained why he did not select Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State, as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
Wike, who had contested for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket but lost to Atiku, was widely expected to be his deputy in the election.
However, Atiku chose former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa instead, a decision that sparked tensions between him and Wike.
Wike, now serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has been at odds with Atiku since that decision.
Some party insiders believe the fight between the two was as a result of Atiku’s choice of Okowa, which Wike and his supporters did not take lightly.
Speaking in an interview scheduled to air today on the television show Untold Stories with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, Atiku reflected on the selection process.
He recalled that after facing criticism in 2019 for picking Peter Obi as his running mate without broad consultation, he decided to involve the party more in 2023.
According to Atiku, he asked the party to form a committee and recommend three candidates.
The committee submitted a list, placing Okowa as the top choice, Wike as the second, and former Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel as the third.
Atiku explained that he simply chose Okowa because he was the first name on the list.
Despite the fallout that followed, Atiku stated that he has no regrets about his decision, maintaining that he followed the party’s recommendation.
Having run for the presidency multiple times, he noted that he trusted the process and stood by the outcome.
