Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has shed light on his choice not to select Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.

When asked if he regretted not picking Wike, Atiku responded strongly: “No, not at all.” He affirmed that he stands by his decision and has no regrets.

In an upcoming episode of Untold Stories with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, Atiku discussed the internal crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that arose following his choice. He emphasized that his decision was based on a structured selection process within the party.

Atiku recounted how, in 2019, he faced criticism for not adequately consulting party members before choosing Peter Obi as his running mate. Learning from that experience, he opted for a more inclusive approach in 2023.

He asked the PDP to form a committee to recommend three potential candidates. The panel ranked Ifeanyi Okowa as the top choice, Wike as the second, and Udom Emmanuel as the third. Atiku ultimately selected Okowa, citing his commitment to following the committee’s recommendations.

Many observers believe Wike’s exclusion fueled tensions within the PDP, leading to internal divisions that weakened Atiku’s campaign. Wike later admitted to actively working against Atiku and supporting President Bola Tinubu instead.

Despite the controversies, Atiku maintained that his decision aligned with the party’s consultative process and was not a personal slight against Wike.

https://independent.ng/atiku-i-have-no-regrets-choosing-okowa-over-wike-in-2023-election/