Atiku to announce running mate today

The presidential candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic PArty Atiku Abubakar is set to announce his running mate for the 2019 general election, The Guardian has learnt.

While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for the submission of names of parties’ candidate expires on Monday, 15 October, a source in Abubakar campaign team told The Guardian that he was in a meeting with Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, who is one of the persons touted to be named as the running mate.

“We cannot confirm anything now. But Peter Obi is the most likely choice,” the source said.

The source also said Abubakar’s choice will be named later on Friday.

Another source said Abubakar’s choice is mostly limited to South-West and South-East, where he picked his running mate, Ben Obi, when he was the presidential candidate of now-defunct Action Congress.

While reports of Peter Obi’s emergence as Atiku’s running mate is rife, a source confirmed consultations were still in process and there was nothing definite yet.

“There are too many flying out there on the super information highway. We understand the anxiety to be the first to break a news, an exclusive one at that.

But choosing a VP is a highly strenuous job, more sensitive and most stakeholders, if not all, must be properly consulted.

And it must also address the current sentiments and emotions of most Nigerians,” the source noted.

Both zones are believed to have helped Atiku neutralise the Northern zone delegates’ votes that went to Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, during the presidential primary on Saturday.

It has been speculated that at least three technocrats and two politicians are being considered for the position.

Details later…