News has it that Atiku Abubakar is considering Emeka Ihedioha as running mate.
Emeka Ihedioha may emerge as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2023 presidential election .
Sources close to the former Imo state governor said he was approached with the idea by his bosom friend, Aminu Tambuwal.
You would recall that Emeka Ihedioha was Tambuwal’s deputy when the Sokoto governor served as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is considering choosing Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, a former governor of Imo state, as his running mate.
Ihedioha, 57, is a former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and an ally of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto.
Ihedioha was also part of those who pressurized Tambuwal to step down for Atiku hours before voting commenced at the PDP presidential primary.
Tambuwal stepped down for Atiku during the convention paving the way for the Adamawa-born politician to defeat his closest rival and Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike.
Party sources revealed that Atiku began consultation with top PDP leaders a day after he won the primary of the party on Saturday night, May 28.
The consultations were said to have commenced when the vice president paid a ‘thank you’ visit to Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto at his Abuja residence.
A source privy to the meeting said: “Tambuwal’s camp had put forward the name of Ihedioha, but Atiku was not favorably disposed to it at first, and Ihedioha himself rejected it.”
While there have been reports of Atiku narrowing his choice to either Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom or Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, the former vice president is keen on having bloc votes from the South East, especially as the region has always supported the PDP since 1999.
The source added: “The recent comments of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that they never threatened to work against Atiku in the 2023 polls is now making Atiku reconsider Ihedioha provided the former governor accepts the offer. “
He wants the South East votes badly because he knows they always tilt towards the PDP every election cycle.”
A source in Ihedioha’s camp also confirmed the authenticity of the rumours but stated that his principal still has his eyes on becoming the Imo state governor.
Culled
