Maduako Igbokwe l Tuesday, June 14, 2022
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar appears to have settled for a running mate from the South East geopolitical zone following the emergence of three top contenders from the area.
The duo of Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike and Gov Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state appeared to have lost the bid for the South South to produce Atiku’s Running Mate.
A reliable source within the Atiku Campaign Organization confirmed that the trio of Chief Okey Muo Aroh from Anambra state, former governor of Enugu state Sen. Chimaroke Nnamani and former governor of Imo state Emeka Ihedioha are among top contenders .
Our reporter also gathered that Atiku is insisting on a new face instead of the known names from the South East hence projecting Chief Okey Muo Aroh as possible running mate .
Our reporter investigation revealed that former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives from the North has been pushing for Emeka Ihedioha for PDP vice presidential ticket,but Atiku seems not to be interested in him .
Our reporter further gathered that Ihedioha colleague at the National Assembly are also pushing to make him the vice president,but the move was not getting the needed attention .
Confirming this development, the National Coordinator of South East Renaissance Chief Ufere Nwankwo said in Awka Anambra State capital that both the party and the Campaign Organization have agreed to search for Atiku’s Running Mate from South East.
He said series of meetings over the choice of Atiku’s Running Mate and the party and Campaign Organization have ruled out the South South and settled for the South East.
Nwankwo said that the party Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar wants a new face rather than those old colleagues, hence reason, the former governors of Enugu and Imo state Chimaroke Nnamani and Emeka Ihedioha may not get it.
According to him, going by what is happening, the likely person to clinch the vice president is Chief Okey Muo Aroh who though not new to the PDP, but a pioneer member of the Party
He also stated that various meeting held had ruled out Ihedioha because of the strong presence of APC in Imo state .
According to him,there is fear that governor Hope Uzodimma would clipped Ihedioha and he may not have the capacity to win Imo and the South East for Atiku. He however said that there is still pressure on the part of the South South PDP to produce the running mate despite the fact that the zone has been ruled out.
Okonkwo also alleged that some people he described as elements in the party from the South East are at the neck of Atiku not to accept Chief Okey Muo Aroh but major stakeholders from the zone are throwing their weight behind Mou Aroh at the moment.
