After rejecting Nyesom Wike as his running mate, Atiku Abubakar reportedly offered him petroleum ministry portfolio if he wins the 2023 presidential election The Rivers state governor who lost the running mate slot to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, however, rejected the offer, according to a party source Since Okowa’s selection as the running mate, Governor Wike has not issued any public statement to indicate whether he is happy with the choice or not
FCT, Abuja – Shortly after his emergence as the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, set up a 17-member committee to recommend candidates to be considered as his running mate. The former vice president was said to have taken the decision in a bid to avert a repeat of the accusation that he unilaterally picked Peter Obi as his running mate for the 2019 election.
Considering Wike’s strong run in the presidential primary, his supporters and many party leaders urged reportedly urged Atiku to pick him as his running mate to unify the party ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
However, Atiku rejected Wike and opted for Governor Okowa whom he had allegedly promised to consider for nomination as his running mate to get the votes of Delta State’s delegates in the primary.
Citing an anonymous source, Premium Times reported that Atiku offered Wike or his nominee the petroleum ministry portfolio if he wins the election after the campaign for the Rivers state governor to be picked as running mate began to grow in the party.
However, on realising that Okowa was the choice, the Rivers governor reportedly flew out of Abuja on the eve of the meeting. Since Atiku’s public nomination of Okowa as his running mate, Governor Wike has not made a public statement regarding the development.