- Dumps opposition party for Tinubu 2023
BY VICTOR BUORO – Former aide to Abubakar Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential flag bearer, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has described the choice of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa for the party’s Vice Presidential position as a ‘reward for treachery’.
Consequently, Afegbua, who once acted as the Wazirin Adamawa’s spokesperson, has formally resigned his membership of the opposition party to embrace the candidacy of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2023 presidential elections.
Speaking as a guest analyst on Arise TV show, The Arise Interview, Afegbua insisted that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike was more deserving of the slot than any other individual in the PDP.
Taunting Atiku’s choice of Okowa as a ‘reward for treachery’, Afegbua said he will henceforth cut ties with the PDP to support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s standard bearer, Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidential ambition.
However, the former Information Commissioner in Edo State explained that he would not be joining the APC, as his decision only affects campaigning for the arty’s candidate come next year’s polls.
The Thursday’s announcement of Governor Okowa as Atiku’s running mate laid to rest weeks of high wired intrigues and expectations that Governor Wike will be the ‘chosen one’ for the position.
The announcement of Governor Okowa as the preferred choice has set tongues wagging with claims in some circles that it is his reward for pocketing Delta State’s delegates to vote Atiku at the presidential primaries where the Wazirin Adamawa easily bagged the party’s ticket.
Former Vice President Atiku polled a total of 371 delegate votes to beat other aspirants, including Governor Wike who placed second with 237 votes at the PDP Special Convention/Presidential primary held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium velodrome in Abuja on May 29, 2022.
