Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has disclosed the behind-the-scenes conversation with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that led to his selection of Peter Obi as a running mate during the 2019 presidential election.
In an interview with Arise TV, Atiku recounted the detailed interaction with the former Vice President: “In 2019, when I won the ticket in Port Harcourt, and I came back here, and then went straight to Abeokuta to meet my boss, President Obasanjo, and told him, ‘Mr. President, I have got the ticket.'”
Describing their discussion about potential running mates, Atiku shared Obasanjo’s specific guidance: “He said to me, ‘From where is your running mate going to come from?’ I said, ‘Of course, it’s either Southeast or Southwest.’ He said leave Southwest because I was there for 8 years, go to Southeast.”
Obasanjo reportedly suggested several candidates, starting with former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. “I told him, Okonjo-Iweala was not a member of our party. I believe if I forward the name to the party, they will reject,” Atiku explained.
When Obasanjo suggested Charles Soludo, Atiku again highlighted the party membership issue: “Soludo, too, was not a member of the party, so they will not accept.”
He stated that he finally agreed with Obasanjo’s recommendation of former Anambra state governor: “He said, ‘What about Peter Obi?’ I said, Peter is a member of the party. He said, ‘Okay, pick Peter Obi,’ and I said, Okay, sir. So, that was it.”
Atiku further confirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership, including Uche Secondus and other party leaders and governors, did not object to Obi’s selection after consultation.