Why I didn’t pick Wike as running mate – Atiku finally opens up

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Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, has explained why he did not choose Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, to be his running partner in 2023.

ZINGTIE recalls that Atiku defeated Wike for the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2023 presidential ticket.

In the election, Wike chose former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to replace the outgoing vice president, despite the overwhelming hopes that he would do so.

The decision, according to many party stakeholders, is what led to the current confrontation between Atiku and Wike, who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

In an interview with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie for the television program Untold Stories, which airs today, Wednesday, Atiku recalled how party leaders accused him of not conducting enough consultation before selecting Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, as his running mate in 2019.

“They said I did not consult with the party enough. So in 2023, I threw the whole thing to the party. I said, ‘Okay, set up a committee and recommend three people for me to pick as a running mate”, he said.

According to the former vice president, the committee put forward three names, with former Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel coming in third, Wike in second, and Ifeanyi Okowa in first.

He stated, “So I picked number one,” adding that the only reason he didn’t choose Wike was because he was the second pick on the list.

Atiku, who had a recorded six presidential runs, claimed he had no regrets about not choosing Wike.

“No, not at all,” he said.

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