Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that he does not regret his decision to overlook former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Arise News, Atiku explained that his choice of a running mate was guided by recommendations from a committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“In 2019, after winning the PDP presidential ticket in Port Harcourt, I consulted with my boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who suggested Peter Obi as my running mate.
“I presented this suggestion to the party leadership, and there was no objection. However, there were concerns that I hadn’t consulted enough within the party,” Atiku stated.
To address these concerns in 2023, Atiku said he deferred to the party’s decision-making process.
“I relied on the party to set up a committee to recommend three potential running mates. I selected the first name on the list,” he added.
9News Nigeria reports that internal divisions within the PDP, saw Wike and other party members break ranks during the 2023 general elections.
