The National Working Working (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will this afternoon submit three names to the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to make his choice.
The NWC will meet this afternoon with the presidential candidate to hand in the names recommended by the committee saddled with the responsibility.
The PDP national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, announced on Tuesday that the PDP will unveil Atiku’s running-mate in 48 hours.
TheNiche reliably gathered that the three nominees are from the South-South and Southeast.
The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who came second in the PDP presidential primaries; Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; Akwa Ibom State governor, Mr. Emmanuel Udom, have all been mentioned from the South-South.
The names of former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who also contested the presidential primaries; and Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo State and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, from the Southeast have also been mentioned.
A source in the Atiku campaign who spoke with TheNiche on Wednesday, said the odds favour the South-South.
“Aside the consideration of who can bring in voters, another important issue is money. The Atiku campaign is looking at who will bring money to the table. Presidential election in Nigeria involves a lot of money. It is very difficult for those in the opposition to finance it. Atiku cannot shoulder the responsibility alone as he did in 2019 when Peter Obi was on the ticket.
“This time, whoever is coming on the ticket must put his money where his mouth is. That is where the governors from the South-South, particularly Wike who has shown uncommon capacity to spend money on elections come in,” our source who pleaded anonymity said.
The Independent National Electoral Electoral (INEC) has given the 18 registered political parties up till Friday, June 17 to submit names of running mates.
There has been frenzy of activities within the political parties since the presidential candidates emerged last week.
- This is a breaking story. Details shortly …