2019: Peter Obi Tipped As Atiku’s Presidential Running Mate

Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has been tipped to emerge as the 2019 presidential running mate to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP in late 2017, had recently declared his intention to run for president in 2019.

According to a report by BusinessDay, sources within Atiku’s camp revealed that Mr Obi will be running as a vice presidential candidate to Atiku under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Atiku has settled for Peter Obi as his running mate in next year’s presidential election, I can tell you that. You know he as chosen someone from the North as his Chief of Staff and Gbenga Daniel who is his Campaign DG is from the Southwest. It is logical for true representation of the country that his running mate should be from the southeast where he already has so much goodwill and support,” BusinessDay quoted the source as saying.

Meanwhile, a PDP chieftain, and former Delta State governorship aspirant, Chief Sunny Okpako Onuesoke, had recently expressed optimism that Atiku will emerge as the presidential candidate of the main opposition party PDP.

“It will be the best bet for PDP if Atiku wins the presidential ticket of the party because there is no better political tactician or strategist in the PDP than Atiku” he said.

“The man Atiku is a partisan politician who has demonstrated maturity and patience in keeping the country united. He respects the rule of law which will, in turn, bring about fairness and justice to all citizens,” the PDP chieftain said last week while receiving Atiku in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.”

Atiku had recently appointed former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, as the Director-General of his presidential campaign organisation.

The former Vice President’s choice of Obi as running mate has been described as a well-calculated move, according to BusinessDay’s source.

The report said other options Atiku considered before picking Peter Obi include former Finance minister, Okonjo Iweala and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Speaking on the speculation of Obi’s candidature, The Director of the Atiku Media Office, Paul Ibe, said:

“It is the responsibility of the former Vice President and the presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to pick whoever he would want to run with. But that time has not come. You can’t jump the gun now and begin to talk about him picking and announcing a running mate. No. Don’t forget that the party also has an input in determining whoever that may run with its presidential candidate at the fullness of time. So, first things first.”