Okowa most qualified as Atiku’s vice, Ayu tells critics

The National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu, has said the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, is the most qualified to be the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election. on Tuesday.

According to Ayu, the PDP looked around and found out that Okowa was the one best suited to assist Atiku in delivering good dividends to Nigerians.

Ayu said this on Tuesday during a summit organised by the Northern Christian Youth Assembly with the theme, ‘Unifying Nigeria: The role of Northern Christian youths and women,’ in Abuja.

He said Okowa was selected based on merit and because of his humility.

“We looked around and we thought we have to give not just a vice president that will assist him (Atiku), but we also did our homework to select a young man who is highly educated, very humble, and who has done very well as a governor in his home state.

“Okowa is the most qualified running mate. It is on his merit that he was selected by the party as the vice presidential candidate for Atiku Abubakar. I think Nigeria will be very lucky to have two such people who are committed to development who are detribalised, who believe in uniting this country,’’ Ayu said.

His explanation came on the heels of a crisis in the rank and file of the PDP with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, accusing the party leadership over alleged faulty structure.

The crisis ensued after Atiku defeated Wike in the presidential primary of the party.

Though a panel recommended Wike as Atiku’s running mate, the presidential candidate instead picked Okowa as his running mate, to the displeasure of the Rivers governor and his supporters.