South East kicks as PDP NWC ‘approves’ Wike as Atiku’s running mate

Following the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the nomination of Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike as the vice-presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 elections.

Daily Trust reliably gathered from various sources that the NWC members after studying the report of the committee unanimously endorsed Wike.

The committee said to have been put together by the Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar had earlier recommended Wike for the VP ticket.

The source also told Daily Trust that NWC members had also communicated their decision to Atiku and are now waiting for his final approval for the party to make the announcement.

The three Governors initially recommended by the National Advisory Committee were Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike, Delta state Ifeanyi Okowa and Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom state.

The committee was chaired by Umar Damagum, PDP Deputy National chairman, North, and had in attendance party leaders like David Mark, former senate president, Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue and former Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Babangida Aliyu of Niger.

Meanwhile, some stakeholders of the party mainly from the South East are said to be against the endorsement of the Rivers state Governor.

The source said the zone felt having contributed immensely to the development of the party since 1999, they deserve a better deal from the party in 2023.

The opponents to Wike as running mate to Atiku are said to be behind some trending videos in the social media where the Rivers Governor was seen swearing never to take vice presidential slot.

The anti-Wike group are of the view that he should not be given the position having vowed not to accept the offer in the first place.

Their grouse is that after the South South benefited from the Goodluck Jonathan administration, it was the turn of the South East to get the vice president slot, at least.

The source said, “Giving the vice president position to South East will usher in peace and harmony in the PDP going into the 2023 elections instead of the south south that is already a battle field among the aspirants.”