By Dansu Peter In a startling revelation that could deepen rifts within the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), official docume...
By Dansu Peter
During the holy month of Ramadan, Atiku had insisted that he chose former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his vice-presidential candidate based on a party-approved ranking of aspirants. He claimed Okowa was the committee’s top recommendation, followed by then-Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.
Atiku, who has sought the presidency six times, previously stated during an interview that he entrusted the decision-making process to the party to avoid backlash over inadequate consultation—a criticism he faced after picking Peter Obi as his running mate in 2019.
“They said I did not consult with the party enough. So in 2023, I threw the whole thing to the party. I said, ‘Okay, set up a committee and recommend three people for me to pick as a running mate,’” Atiku recounted. “The committee submitted three names with Ifeanyi Okowa as the first choice, Wike as the second, and Udom Emmanuel as the third. So I picked number one.”
However, a leaked official PDP document, reportedly signed by party stalwarts, has now emerged showing Wike as the top candidate on the list—directly contradicting Atiku’s narrative.
The revelation has triggered fresh outrage from Wike’s camp. Mr. Lere Olayinka, media special adviser to Wike—now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)—has accused Atiku of lying to the public, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
According to Olayinka, the new evidence affirms that Wike was the preferred choice of the party’s committee, a fact Atiku allegedly chose to distort for personal or political reasons.
With the PDP still grappling with post-election grievances, the leaked document could intensify calls for accountability and transparency within the party’s leadership.
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