…….. Party members, Groups kick
The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, on Thursday afternoon against popular will of his party picked his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State
One of the reasons he gave during the unveiling of his running mate was that he found in Okowa a material who will succeed him when he leaves office as President.
The former Vice President has contested election for office of president for about five times through different platforms. Five times he failed to achieve victory.
The PDP NWC and the Advisory Council set up by the NWC voted massively for Governor Nyesom Wike and reportedly sent their reports to the party’s presidential flag bearer for endorsement on Wednesday.
But Atiku, decided to pitch tent with Okowa who allegedly betrayed the course of the Southern Governors and the people on Power shift to the South and supported Atiku’s presidential bid with the intent of being his running mate.
The choice of Okowa has generated heat waves in the party and Southern Nigeria as many plan to switch their loyalty to the All Progressives Congress APC and Labour party.
Notable of party faithful angered by the development and planning to leave the parg is a Chieftain and former Spokesman of the ex- Vice President ‘s campaign organisation, Kassim Afegbua who registered his displeasure while speaking on Arise TV on Thursday.
According to him , Atiku’s choice , Okowa whom he described as weaker candidate” was a positive development to permanently bury the opposition PDP and give opportunity to parties with Southern presidential candidates.
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” It gladdens my heart that Atiku has picked a weaker candidate as his running mate. It provides a golden opportunity for the APC, which has a Southern Candidate and Peter Obi.
” Okowa was among the governors who made the Southern declaration that the region should produce the next President but he went behind to work against it and betrayed the South because he was looking at becoming Vice President.
” Atiku has used the Vice President slot to compensate him”
Afegbua vowed to resign from the PDP and support the candidate of the All Progressives Congress,Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
For the Pan Igbo socio- cultural organisation, Ohaeneze Ndigbo, Atiku has just looked for trouble for choosing Okowa as running mate.
According to the group, It will teach PDP a lesson in the 2023 general elections.
In a statement on Thursday signed by its Secretary General,Mazi Okechukwu Isigizoro said for neglecting the South East,” We will teach PDP the language they need to understand in 2023″.
On Wednesday evening barely a few hours to the selection of Okowa by Atiku distorted videos of Governor Wike were circulated on social media platforms deliberately by desperados intended to cast aspersions upon his personality .
