Leaked Document Contradicts Atiku’s Claim on 2023 Running Mate Selection

A newly surfaced document titled Report of the Advisory Committee for the Selection of Presidential Running Mate has contradicted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s claim regarding his choice of running mate for the 2023 presidential election. The document, shared on social media by Lere Olayinka, Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, challenges Atiku’s assertion that former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was the committee’s top choice.

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, stated during an interview on Untold Stories with Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie last week that he selected Okowa based on party consultation and had no regrets about not choosing Wike. He explained that he had learned from past mistakes and allowed the party to decide, recounting how in 2019, after securing the PDP ticket, he consulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo on selecting a running mate.

Atiku stated that Obasanjo initially suggested Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, now the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and later Charles Soludo, but both were ruled out due to their lack of PDP membership. Eventually, Peter Obi was chosen after party leaders, including Wike, endorsed the decision.

To ensure wider consultation in 2023, Atiku said the PDP set up a committee to recommend three potential running mates. According to him, the committee listed Okowa as the first choice, Wike as the second, and former Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel as the third. He emphasized that he simply selected the top-ranked candidate.

However, Olayinka’s leaked document presents a different narrative, showing that Wike was actually the committee’s first choice. He accused Atiku of distorting facts, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, questioning how Okowa, who reportedly secured only two votes, could have been ranked higher than Wike, who allegedly received 13 votes.

Olayinka insisted that Atiku should acknowledge the real reason behind his decision rather than attempting to justify it with what he described as falsehoods.