PDP BoT meets Atiku Monday over running mate

The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday will meet with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on his nomination and strategy for winning the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
A senior BoT member confided in one of his correspondents that although the law allows a candidate to nominate a candidate, the board will ensure that the best candidate is a vice president.
Atiku, who stepped down as party president last Saturday, garnered 371 votes to defeat 13 other candidates. His closest rival, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, received 237 votes; Former Senate President Bukola Saraki received 70 votes, followed by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom Province, who received 38 votes.
Bauchi County Governor Bala Mohammed received 20 votes; the former Senate President, Pius Anyim, received 14 votes, while the former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Sam Ohuabunwa, received only one vote.
Others wishing to be like former governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State; Ovation International Magazine publisher, Chief Dele Momodu; Diana Teriela, the only woman in the race; Charles Ugwu and Chikwendu Kalu had no record of voting against their names.
Earlier in the day of the meeting, the former CEO of FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, withdrew from primary school, with Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto Province stepping down from Atiku just before the start of voting.
Since the emergence of Atiku, many South politicians, where Atiku will choose his running partner, have been running for the sake of the slot.
Prominent among the nominees for running partners are Wike, Udom, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, co-ordinator of Tambuwal.
A senior BoT member said in a statement “The party understands the sensitivity of the candidate and we want to be very careful, as it could easily create a problem for us. The biggest party we are facing in the election is the ruling party (All Progressives Congress), so now that we have a candidate, it is wise to go along with that with a terrible partner.
“That is why we do not want to leave anything to chance, that is why the BoT wants to meet with our councilor on Monday. The idea is to celebrate a successful meeting, to discuss with him (Atiku) the candidate and how we can launch our campaign to win the election. ”
Another BoT member and former party National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo, confirmed to one of our correspondents that the BoT would meet Atiku on Monday.
He said, “I congratulate our National Chairperson (Senator Iyorchia Ayu) and the National Executive Committee for organizing a smooth meeting that produced an innocent Nigerian man as presiding over the presidential election. The next step is to choose a successful marriage mate, one who comes from the South and who will be a Christian.
“The PDP is an organized party and has all the structures and structures in place. We did not postpone our national conference, unlike other parties that have been postponing their own. We have all our structures, unlike other groups that do not even have a BoT. We have BoT, National Executive Committee, national caucus and NWC.
“Our party will convene meetings of all these party structures, because in our usual way, it is a family matter. We will consider all the variables and in consultation with the candidate, we will collectively select the right person to run for office.
“What the law says is that a presidential candidate should nominate a candidate, but in our party it is always a collective responsibility. We are all living with a candidate and electing a candidate who will be accepted by all Nigerians. We will do it on time and until we pass the INEC deadline. I can tell you that the work goes on that way. ”
Asked about the agenda for the meeting between the BoT and Atiku on Monday, Oladipo said it had not yet been released but it would not be a place for the board to discuss the issue of Atiku’s partner.
“The BoT will meet with the candidate for the presidency on Monday and we will review our activities in the next election. Fortunately, our president is a member of the BoT. He will share his thoughts with us and we will make contributions as team leaders. Remember that BoT is the conscience of the party, ”he added.
Regarding the aforementioned nominations, Oladipo said they were all trained people as long as one was southern and a Christian, adding that this was necessary to balance religion and race.
“All the people mentioned above are very qualified, but the important thing is that the candidate is a South African Christian. Please God give us the best, ”said Oladipo.
Another BoT member, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said it was important for the party to improve.
He added, “The candidate must submit to the wishes of the party members; The BoT and all ideological leaders must be consulted. The issue of who will be the vice president is very important. If you make a mistake then you are wasting the chances of the party winning the election. Therefore, our team must in the interest of this country ensure that the best person emerges.
“What I do know is that anyone who intends to discriminate against the South-West must reconsider, because it is very difficult to manage. We evaluate the situation before making a commitment, and we do not laugh at the well-being of our people. ”
Jibrin will step down as chairman of the BoT in January.

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Meanwhile, BoT chairman Walid Jibrin said he would step down