…as ruling party settles for Muslim-Muslim ticket
. PDP engages in last minute intrigues over Atiku’s VP candidate
Anxiety has heightened in both the ruling All Progressives Congress and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party over the choice of running mates for their presidential candidates as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s deadline for the submission of the names of vice presidential candidates of all political parties draws nearer.
But barring any last minute change, the ruling APC, the main opposition PDP and the other parties participating in the 2023 general elections must submit the names of their presidential candidates running mate on Friday.
Indications have, however, emerged in the APC that the ruling party may have settled for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
In the PDP, the decision by the party to constitute another committee under the chairmanship of Chief Tom Ikimi to screen Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike compounded the already confusing situation in the main opposition party over the matter.
Only on Tuesday the National Advisory Council of the PDP recommended Wike as Atiku’s running mate.
Concerned party members continue to wonder why Wike must be screened for the second time after his recent screening by the Senator David Mark-led presidential screening panel for the recently concluded PDP presidential primary election in which he came second.
In the APC, some of those currently in contention for the vice presidential ticket of the ruling party include Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Alhaji Kabir Ibrahim Masari said to be President Muhammadu Buhari’s relation from Katsina State; former Secretary of the Buhari Support Group (BSG) and a long time ally of the President in the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change ( CPC), Dr. Ibrahim Bello Dauda and former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima.
It was learnt that Dauda, who is a management consultant from Borno State, is the anointed candidate of the CPC bloc since the New PDP and the ACN blocs have already taken the National Chairmanship and Presidential candidate ticket of the APC, respectively.
Amongst the PDP chieftains eyeing the covetous vice presidential slot of the party before the NAC decision to nominate Wike were former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim; Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
But PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, listed other members of the Ikimi panel expected to screen Wike today to include Dr Akilu Indabawa, Capt. Idris Wada, Chief Osita Chidoka, Binta Bello, Chief Mutiat Adedoja, Austin Opara, Prof. Aisha Madawaki, Mrs Ayotunde George-Ologun, Chief Chidiebelu Mofus and Fidelis Tapgun.
According to the PDP spokesman, “Pursuant to Part VI, Paragraph 14 of the Electoral Guidelines of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC) has approved the nomination of the following party members to serve on the Vice Presidential Candidate Screening Committee for the screening/verifying of the nominated Vice Presidential Candidate of our party for the 2023 general elections.”
Recall that INEC had warned political parties that the candidate nomination portal for the 2023 general election would automatically shut down at 6 pm on Friday (tomorrow) for national elections and 6 pm on July 15 for state elections.
It also stipulated that presidential and governorship candidates’ names must be accompanied by those of their running mates (i.e. vice presidential and deputy governorship candidates).
INEC also warned the political parties that without fulfilling this condition, their nominations would be rendered invalid.
We couldn’t, however, confirm as of Wednesday night whether the PDP will forward the name of Atiku’s running mate before INEC’s Friday deadline or will just include a name it will substitute during the substitution window that will be opened next month.