<p><strong>The presidential candidate of the <a href="http://Openlife.ng">Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)</a>, <a href="http://Openlife.ng">Atiku Abubakar</a> has reportedly submitted three names of his possible <a href="http://Openlife.ng">running mate</a> to leaders of the main opposition party to select from.</strong></p>
<p>The PDP must submit the name of its presidential candidate and running mate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the deadline set for June 17.</p>
<p>It was gathered that <strong>Governors Nyesom Wike, Ifeanyi Okowa and Udom Emmanuel of Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom States</strong> respectively made the list.</p>
<p>But sources disclosed that Atiku, a former Nigerian Vice-President, is favourably disposed to the choice of Okowa, a medical doctor serving his second term as the governor.</p>
<p><em><strong>“Atiku will consult very well. He has met with the governors on the platform of the party; he has met with members of the national caucus, the PDP Governors’ Forum, members of the National Executive Committee, and even former presidents and heads of state,”</strong> </em>a top source told <em>The PUNCH</em>.</p>
<p><em><strong>“The leadership of the party asked him to bring three names that he thinks he could work with and he did, which are the names people have been mentioning everywhere; Wike, Okowa and Udom Emmanuel. But I think he prefers Okowa. He (Okowa) is believed to have the support of the majority of the governors, including those from the South-East and South-South, where he hails from.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>“The preference for him is also strategic. Following the need to carry along the South-East people, Okowa is Igbo from the Igbo part of Delta State. He is calm, a medical doctor and does not insult or fight people, including his colleagues. Even during campaigns, he’s not the type to speak ill of fellow aspirants or candidates.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>“Therefore, it’s not likely that there will be any major opposition to his choice. Like I said, he is Igbo and he will create that needed balance between the South-South and the South-East. The Igbo will support him and people in the South-South will also support him.”</strong></em></p>
<p>The source, who was privy to some of the meetings held over the issue, disclosed that some PDP governors are not in favour of Wike becoming Atiku’s running mate.</p>
<p>The source claimed that some governors frustrated the move to make him the running mate because they feel he is too powerful.</p>
<p><em><strong>“But in all honesty, you need someone like Wike to win the election.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>“He can fight dirty and can pull the crowd. But some of the governors, who form a powerful and influential bloc in the party, feel otherwise and you cannot dismiss their views,”</strong> </em>the source said.</p>
<h1>The Bola Tinubu factor</h1>
<p>The highly-placed revealed that some stakeholders are considering picking a running mate from the South-West to challenge the emergence of Bola Tinubu.</p>
<p>The source said PDP stakeholders are saying it will be dangerous for the party to totally ignore the South-West, because North-West, which has the highest votes, may give Tinubu that advantage.</p>
<p><em><strong>“Now, people are saying if a Christian from the South-West is Atiku’s running mate, it will affect Tinubu’s votes in the region, because running with a Muslim/Muslim ticket will spark outrage from Pentecostal Christians and that will affect his votes among even the northern Christians. It will also affect him in the South-South. That is the argument. So, the PDP cannot also ignore the South-West.”</strong></em></p>

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