Wike vs Okowa: I will not join issues with Atiku over running mate, PDP crisis – Gov Ortom

 

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has vowed not to join issues with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar over the issues surrounding the selection of his running mate.

 

Recall that PDP has been experiencing crises over Atiku’s choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate.

 

Atiku had ignored Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who emerged second during the party’s presidential primary election and picked Okowa as his running mate.

 

Reports had it that Atiku had rejected the recommendation of a committee he set up on selecting his running mate.

 

Atiku’s action is widely believed to have infuriated Wike and some party chieftains.

 

Speaking on the issue, Ortom, who headed the committee, said the former Vice President reached out to him to pacify Wike.

 

But, Atiku denied rejecting Wike, stressing that he only picked the most qualified to be his running mate.

 

Reacting, Ortom said the PDP would settle the controversy surrounding the choice of a running mate would be settled in-house.

 

In a tweet, Ortom wrote: “I will not contradict @atiku on what he said. He is my candidate, and I am behind him. Whatever happened in the course of the primaries and nomination of the Presidential running mate is now a thing of the past. PDP is a family, and we will always settle our matters in-house.”