The selection of governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state as the running mate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar’s running mate could be in the offing.
This is as some politicians from the opposition party favour him for the number two position.
A committee set up by the party, on Monday, said the Rivers governor as vice-presidential candidate will do better for the ticket than his main challengers.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta was recommended as the second-best politician to pair with Abubakar; while Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom was placed third.
Aminu Tambuwal, chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, endorsed the decision to prioritise Mr Wike on the list of key vice-presidential options for Abubakar.
Governors, board of trustee members and the national working committee officials made contributions to the list.
“They were recommended based on their individual strength,” Peoples Gazette quoted a source to have said.
The running mate option has been a close contest between Messrs Wike and Okowa, who was initially seen as the potential running mate for Abubakar until recently when Mr Wike began showing keen interest.
Abubakar has reportedly promised Okowa the ticket since last year, and when
Wike sought the presidential ticket against Mr Abubakar, the choice was deemed easy. But the rivalry became apparent last week when Okowa issued a statement saying only God could stop him from emerging Abubakar’s running mate.
It was not immediately clear whether or not the committee’s decision would prevail. Mr Abubakar has yet to disclose his final decision, and a spokesman did not immediately return a request seeking comments.