PDP: A lot of noise to choose a VP

More details have continued to emerge on the behind-the-scenes maneuvering within the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) that preceded Vice President Atiku Abubakar's selection of Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa as his running mate.

It should be recalled that ever since the PDP Presidential flag bearer chose the Governor of Delta State as his preferred Vice Presidential nominee, the party has been hemorrhaging steadily. Atiku's efforts to ensure buy-in from PDP stakeholders in the search for his running mate resulted in the creation of the selection committee led by Chief Tom Ikimi.

While there was a claim that the committee voted 16 to 3 in favor of Rivers State Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, it was understood that the committee merely recommended three prospects, including Wike, Okowa and Governor Udom Emmanuel.

At the end of the collation and counting of ballots in the May 28 presidential primary, Wike was trailing Atiku by 237 votes to 371 of the 767 total votes of accredited delegates. Akwa Ibom State Governor Emmanuel, who was the second runner-up, garnered 38 votes.

Therefore, when the search for Atiku's running mate began, the popular sentiment among PDP stakeholders was that the Governor of Rivers State or his counterpart in Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel, should become his running mate for the election of February 25, 2023.< /p>

But, in an effort to avoid the mistake of 2019, when he selected former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Atiku put together a compact team consisting of General Aliyu Gusau and Senator Ben Obi, to focus on certain candidates and introduce himself. background check.

However, soon after, the All Progressives Congress (APC) held its special convention and presidential primaries, which rejected former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. This has raised new concerns within the opposition PDP fold. It was in this context that the committee headed by Ikimi was formed to select and recommend a candidate who would add value and improve the party's competitiveness in the presidential race.

As part of the broad consultations undertaken by the PDP presidential candidate, the PDP former governors forum held a series of meetings, during which former governors made their contributions.

Nevertheless, despite the Ikimi Committee's shortlist of three possible VP candidates in their ranking order, Atiku, perhaps relying on prior intelligence and correspondence from Team Gusau's background, opted for Governor Okowa, who was ranked next to Wike. And, since Okowa did not campaign nationwide or participate in the presidential primary, many party leaders, especially those lining up behind Wike, felt betrayed and rejected.

For example, former Plateau State Governor Senator Jonah Jang questioned why the selection process was launched if Atiku had a particular candidate in mind without mentioning his choice for public evaluation .

Addressing reporters on the implication of the Ekiti state governorship poll, in which the PDP is far behind a third place finish, Jang said efforts should be made to resolve the issue. persistent animosity and a sense of disrespect among some leaders.

The former Plateau State Chief Executive said "it has become clear that we urgently need to get our house in order, if we are to have an impact" in the 2023 election. His words: “The gubernatorial election in Ekiti State has shown us that we cannot run for general elections with a divided house. It's instructive that we need to go back to the drawing board, correct the bad decisions we've made, and start making sure we're ready to go into the field without any baggage from the decisions we've made.

"As one of the founding fathers alive today, one who participated in the processes that laid the groundwork for our primaries, I am compelled to add my voice to those of the prominent members of our great party who expressed their dismay at recent events, particularly with the emergence of the vice-presidential candidate.

"While it is no longer known that presidential primaries have come and gone and a candidate has emerged, it is disheartening to note that the manner in which the vice-presidential candidate has emerged is nothing short of "other than a sheer disregard for process. We are all aware that the party, in consultation with the presidential candidate, has set up a commission to select a running mate.

"Turn around and dismiss the outcome of the exercise is clear evidence that the committee's work was not appreciated or was not going to be considered from the start."

Quoting Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, who was a member of the 17-member committee, Jang pointed out that "14 of us in the committee said the person should be Wike, unfortunately, Atiku has chose Okowa in his wisdom. You can't ignore the decision of a committee of your own making and expect people to be happy."

While insisting that the...