Atiku finally unveils Okowa as running mate, makes demands

 

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has finally unveiled Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate.

 

He unveiled Okowa at the PDP headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

 

Okowa and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State were initially pencilled down for the role of Atiku’s running mate.

 

Speaking during the unveiling, the former Vice President said his running mate must be able to speak his mind freely.

 

He also said Okowa must be ready to work with him at all times.

 

Atiku said the decision of his “running mate was a difficult decision, but I’m not afraid to take such decisions.”

 

Apart from Okowa, others reportedly shortlisted are Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

 

Abubakar on Saturday, May 28, emerged as the PDP candidate for 2023 presidential election.

 

Abubakar scored 371 votes to emerge as the party’s candidate defeating his close contender, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, who polled 237 votes.

 

Born on November 25, 1946, in Jada, Adamawa, Abubakar ran for Governor of the state three times in 1990, 1997 and 1998, when he was elected before becoming the running mate to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, which he remained the vice president till 2003.

 

Abubakar contested for the office of the president several times, including 2014 when he ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and lost in the primaries to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

He also run as the PDP presidential candidate in 2019 but lost to President Buhari of APC.