A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party has said that replacing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State with the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as the party’s vice-presidential candidate will deepen the crisis in the party.
Premium Politics reported that the party’s flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, had thrown the party into a crisis by snubbing Wike for Okowa, leaving the Rivers governor, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and a number of party members aggrieved.
According to the source who is a close aide to the PDP flagbearer, Atiku chose Okowa due to the similarities in their ideologies.
He reiterated the fact that the party would do everything to ensure that the crisis is resolved.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the source said, “Replacing Okowa with Wike at this point will further lead to more crises within the party. The candidate has made his choice and while it may not be favourable to everyone, the choice has been made.
“The choice of Okowa was about ideologies, his ideologies align with the candidate and that is why the candidate chose him as running mate. Wike is a party man. He is strong, we recognize his impact and the need to reconcile.”
Reacting to calls that Atiku should drop Okowa, an aide to the governor urged those behind the clamour to channel their energy to how to win the presidency for PDP.
The aide, who spoke in Asaba on condition of anonymity, stated, “It is the right of the candidate which is Atiku to choose his running mate and that he has done. So, it is not possible to drop Okowa. The man has made his choice.”
The Chief Press Secretary to Okowa, Olisa Ifeajika, could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report as calls and messages sent to his phone were not responded to.
Also, the State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, declined to comment.
