PDP leaders tell Atiku his running mate must be younger than him and grounded in economics

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leaders have met with their presidential candidate former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and given him guidelines on the picking of a running mate insisting that whoever it is must be younger than him and be knowledgeable about economics.

On Sunday, Alhaji Abubakar emerged as the PDP's presidential flagbearer following the party's convention in Port Harcourt, putting him on course for a head-to-head clash with President Muhammadu Buhari in next February's elections. Now, the race is on for Alhaji Abubakar to pick a running mate ahead of the October 18 deadline given to candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec).

Yesterday, PDP leaders led by national chairman Prince Uche Secondus, met with Alhaji Abubakar at the party’s presidential campaign office  known as Legacy House in Abuja to address the matter. During the two hour meeting, the party leaders mandated Alhaji Abubakar  to submit a list of his preferred candidates as running mates to enable them discuss it with him.

One party source said: “The meeting told the former vice president that he should work with the party henceforth and that he has ceased from being a private person. The meeting demanded the list of those he considered could be his running mate.

"Also, the party let him know that he has to carry its leadership along and that he cannot unilaterally pick a running mate without the party’s input. Some names were mentioned but the party’s position was that a proper list should be compiled to enable both sides to look at the list and take a position.”

According to the source, some criteria were set for who should be the PDP's vice presidential running mate and among these were the fact that the person should be younger than Alhaji Abubakar and be grounded in the economy. Names believed to be under serious consideration include former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, one-time agricultural minister Akinwunmi Adesina and World Bank treasurer Arunma Oteh.

“The party was very clear about these two areas that the running mate must be grounded in the economy and must also be younger than the presidential candidate. There were other discussions concerning the setting up of the campaign council and those who should be there.

“In all, the candidate told the meeting that he was a team player and that he would always defer to it and that he could not do the job alone. It was a family gathering sort of, and the former vice president also pledged to work with the party in order to have a successful campaign,” the source added.