The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has come out to react to the controversy surrounding his choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and why he did not choose the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, before arriving at his decision, he held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.

Atiku added that he has always been clear that his running mate should have the potential to succeed him at a moment’s notice.

His words, “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.”

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”