Mustapha Sani, Edo.
The last may not have been heard about what happened behind the scenes which led to the choice of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to the Nation newspaper, Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike was initially favoured for the VP slot but some founding fathers and Governors of the party influenced the choice of Okowa.
However, this decision did not go down well with some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members namely, the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih, the Deputy National Chairman South, National Woman Leader, National Vice Chairman, South-West, the National Vice Chairman, South-East, National Publicity Secretary, the National Financial Secretary and the National Auditor.
Also, most of the PDP Governors were absent. Prominent amongst them were Governors of Sokoto State, Rivers State, Benue State, Abia State, Oyo State, Adamawa State, Enugu State and Taraba State.
It is instructive to note that the governors who represented the governors Forum in the Advisory Committee for Selection of Vice President voted in favour of Governor Wike, so also were members of the National Working Committee.
These NWC members are believed to be uncomfortable with the decision of the Party over the VP choice. They all boycotted the presentation of Okowa as Atiku’s running mate on Thursday because some leaders of the party, including the national chairman, jettisoned the recommendation of the committees that settled for Wike to be Atiku’s deputy.
For those who may like to know the relationship that existed between Wike and some of these members, Wike was believed to be instrumental in the choice of Sam Anyanwu as the national secretary of the PDP ahead of other candidates from the Southeast region.
In the leadership tussle between Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and Dan Orbih for the control of the party’s structures, Wike also stood behind South-South National vice chairman against the Edo State Governor.
