Okowa Vs Wike: PDP Leaders Move To Avert Crisis Over Vice-Presidential Slot

The high command in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was on Thursday moving to quench subtle crisis arising from the selection process that led to the final emergence of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the presidential running mate over Governor Nyesom Wike

The move by the PDP stakeholders followed the shock in the choice of the Delta governor after Governor Nyesom Wike had appeared to dominate considerations in the 19 man panel earlier constituted by the party to pick a vice-presidential candidate.

The panel was according to several reports settled on Wike who scored 16 votes as compared to Okowa who got 3 votes and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State who polled zero votes.

The committee was said to have submitted the report with the recommendation in that order. Wike was said to have prevailed in the panel’s recommendation largely on account of his impressive relationship with party members and his role in funding the PDP especially at its worst seasons.

Others cited his impressive showing at the PDP presidential primaries where he came second and was the only one with the ability to mobilise the South against Atiku.

However, Atiku along with his close associates were said to have demurred on the recommendation of the PDP panel on Wike. Pressure was also said to have been brought against Wike by the Northern establishment fearful of a very vocal vice president unlike Okowa who has been known to be taciturn but also decisive with the record of having helped the party organize at least two conventions.

Another factor that was said to have counted against Okowa is the unfolding crisis in the Delta State chapter of the party that has seen the governor and his associates at daggers drawn with Chief James Ibori, a well known associate of Atiku’s.

However, faced between the devil and the deep blue sea, Atiku and his close associates were said to have chosen the quiet disposition of Okowa over the well known public displays of Wike as the vice-presidential candidate.

While many were comfortable with the choice, GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that a significant proportion of the NWC and influential stakeholders who had been drumming for Wike and helped him to realise the 16-3-0 votes over Okowa and Udom Emmanuel in the vice-presidential committee report, were not pleased with the Atiku decision.

It was gathered that the PDP stakeholders were on Thursday moving to manage the crisis arising from the development with one senior PPD chief saying on Thursday that the right moves must be made to settle the crisis to avoid the party entering the campaign season with a burden of crisis.

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