Atiku lied about 2023 PDP VP candidate claim – Wike’s aide

By John Ogunsemore

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has faulted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s claim that the committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to select its Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election rated the former Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, as its first choice.

Wike’s reaction was conveyed in a Saturday statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

During an interview on Untold Stories with Adesuwa published on Wednesday, Atiku was asked whether he regretted not selecting Wike as his vice-presidential candidate in 2023.

Atiku said, “So in 2023, I told the party to set up a committee to recommend three names. The committee ranked Okowa as the top choice, with Wike in second place and former Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel, in third. So I picked number one.”

Dismissing Atiku’s claim as false, Olayinka cautioned the former VP against lying during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Olayinka said in the committee report that Wike had 13 votes while Okowa had two.

Wike’s aide asked how a committee will present the person who had two votes as first choice as against the person who had 13 votes.

The FCT minister’s spokesman said it became necessary to put the records straight, insisting that “Wike never put himself forward to be Atiku’s running mate then, Atiku did by himself, and he (Wike) accepted his offer with conditions.”

“The committee set up by the PDP picked Wike as Atiku’s running mate, but for reasons best known to him, he settled for Okowa, who had two votes from the committee members. That’s the truth Atiku should tell and stand with, not trying to colour his decision with falsehood,” he said.

Olayinka said the FCT Minister was no longer interested in what happened and what did not happen concerning the 2023 presidential election.

“Like I said earlier,  Wike has no regret for Atiku not picking him as his running mate, and he also has no regret taking the position he took concerning the presidential election,” he said.