Atiku’s running mate: PDP may choose Daniel to counter Osinbajo, Peter Obi tipped as SGF

Less than 24 hours after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flagbearer for the 2019 elections, stakeholders are already strategising on who will fill the position of his running mate.
Freedom Online learned that after the primaries in Port Harcourt, Atiku went to the Government House on Sunday evening to pay a thank-you visit to Governor Nyesom Wike “but the visit was just a decoy. The real purpose was to discuss the issue of running mate”, said a source at the meeting.
At the meeting were PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, Rivers and Edo states chairmen of the party, Brother Felix Obuah and Chief Dan Orbir, former governors of Ogun and Anambra states, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Mr. Peter Obi, Senators Ben Murray-Bruce and Sam Anyanwu, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara, Wike’s Chief of Staff, Chukwuemeka Woke, Chief Sergeant Awuse, and others.
When the meeting was ongoing, calls were placed to two of the aspirants who contested with Atiku and it was agreed that Daniel, the Director-General (D-G) of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO), be chosen as the running mate.
Obi was chosen as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). He hails from South-East.
Daniel, a two-term governor of Ogun State and South-West Coordinator of Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation in the 2011 election, was chosen because he hails from the same senatorial district with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (Ogun East).
President Muhammadu Buhari was affirmed as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate on Saturday at the Eagle Square, Abuja and it is believed Osinbajo will be retained as his running mate.
It was gathered that Daniel was chosen because of his vast network of political associates in the South-West in general and Ogun State in particular. He is also a frontline member of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere.
But, Atiku was said to have told the meeting that he needed to consult with other aspirants and stakeholders of the party across the country before announcing Daniel as the running mate.
The source disclosed that those at the meeting also said Daniel performed creditably as governor and has succeeded in rallying the party in his home state for a formidable challenge of the APC in the general elections.
Obi rose to national prominence as governor based on his performance, especially the prudent management of the state’s resources, and has sustained this outside political office with his contributions to education and knowledge of economic issues.
Some party leaders and members are, however, said to be routing for the emergence of a South Easterner as the running mate.
They also canvassed the position at the meeting, which was adjourned to a later date, which will be soon, for the presidential campaign to commence.
Freedom Online also learned that if Daniel becomes the running mate, Senator Murray-Bruce may be chosen as the Director-General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCO).
Murray-Bruce hails from Bayelsa State in South-South.