Wike, Atiku Meet 2nd Time In 48hrs As Search For PDP’s VP Candidate Intensifies [PHOTOS]

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday met for the second time in the space of 48 hours.

This time, Wike visited Atiku at his Abuja residence, in what seems to be a reciprocated visit to the earlier one paid by the former Vice President to the governor’s residence on Monday.

The double visit comes as the main opposition party, PDP begins shopping for a Vice Presidential candidate for Atiku.

Atiku who took to his social media account said he is pleased that Wike alongside other stakeholders in the party have joined hands together to ensure the party is successful in the upcoming polls.

“It was a pleasure to receive His Excellency Nyesom Wike in the company of notable leaders and officials of our great party, the PDP, at my residence today,” he wrote.

A feeler in the party said the series of meeting might not be unconnected with the search for a running mate for Atiku.

While the source noted that the PDP will wait for the outcome of the presidential primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), before it makes a decision on who to flag the party’s ticket alongside Atiku, stakeholders in the party have been calling for the ticket to be given to a southerner.

Wike is said to be one of the favourites to fill the post, due to development that played out at the party’s special convention last Saturday.

During the PDP presidential primary held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium on Saturday, Atiku clinched the presidential ticket by polling 371 votes to defeat Wike, who got 237 votes; a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, 70 votes; the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, 38 votes; the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, 20 votes; a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, 14 votes and an ex-President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Sam Ohuabunwa, one vote.

The delegates were said to be surprised when the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who was one of the front runners for the presidential ticket, stepped down and directed his supporters to vote for Atiku as a result of what sources said was due to the intervention of the northern elders, who were pushing for a northern consensus aspirant.

Wike had lambasted Tambuwal for stepping down for Atiku at the last-minute and had alleged that some PDP governors from the South also sabotaged him.