Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said he did not reject Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as his running mate.
Atiku made the remark while speaking on Arise TV on Friday adding that he only choose a running mate he could work with “amicably”.
Controversy had trailed Atiku’s choice of Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate, despite that the party’s National Working Committee had endorsed Wike.
Speaking on why he picked Okowa as his running mate against Wike, Atiku said he wanted someone who can “deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country”.
He further stated, “Governor Wike was not rejected. Nobody was rejected in the party. But you must understand that it’s the prerogative of the candidate to pick his running mate — a running mate he believes he can work with amicably, and then also deliver the policies of the party, and also try to unify the country.”
“Governor Wike is a brilliant politician. He’s courageous, tenacious. I believe he has a future in the political evolution of this country. It’s not a question of rejection. Certainly, not. I think it’s too harsh a word to say that we rejected Governor Wike. Certainly not.”
