Lere Olayinka, an aide to the FCT Minister, has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of lying about how Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa became his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
During an interview with Trust TV News, Olayinka claimed that Atiku’s recent statements about the selection process were false. “He lied,” Olayinka said. According to him, a committee was set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to recommend a vice-presidential candidate. He stated that the committee ranked Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike as the top choice, followed by Okowa and then Udom Emmanuel.
Olayinka revealed that around 75 to 80 percent of the committee members supported Wike. Despite this, Atiku later chose Okowa instead. He further alleged that Atiku had personally visited Wike at his home to ask him to be his running mate.
“Atiku went to Wike’s house and told him, ‘I will pick you as my running mate.’ Wike initially declined but later consulted his supporters and agreed. After this, Atiku announced that a committee would decide, but he still went ahead and chose Okowa against the committee’s decision,” Olayinka said.
This claim contradicts Atiku’s version of events, where he stated that Okowa was always his top choice. The disagreement highlights the deep divisions within the PDP after the 2023 elections.