2019 heats up as Atiku begins search for running mate; focuses on S/East

macfranc007 October 08, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Buchi Obichie

- The presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has reportedly began searching for a running mate

- The search has allegedly been limited to the south-east, with Abia and Ebonyi states as front runners

- A source in the opposition party, however, stated that no candidate would be imposed on the former VP

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 elections, has already commenced his search for a running mate.

According to investigations by Punch, the search may have been limited to the south-east geopolitical zone.

NAIJ.com gathers that some states in the zone, however, may have been disqualified from the short list.

One of such allegedly disqualified states is Anambra, where a former running mate to Atiku, Peter Obi, hails from.

According to certain sources, the reason for the disqualification of Anambra is that the state had already produced two former speakers, two former Senate presidents, one vice president and a president.

Also, Enugu state, is said to have produced a national chairman of the PDP and a deputy Senate president.

In the same vein, the argument for the disqualification of Imo state, is that it had produced a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and also a Senate president.

According to sources, the contest is between Abia and Ebonyi.

Another source, however, pointed out that the south-west has not been completely ruled out in the search for Atiku’s running mate.

He, however, stated that the PDP would only serve as a guide by “putting into consideration, all political variables that would enable us win in 2019,” and would not impose any candidate on Atiku.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar reacted to his victory at the just concluded PDP presidential primaries election.

In a reaction via his official Twitter handle, Atiku commended the PDP and all its members for choosing him as the flag-bearer ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

PDP convention: Atiku elected as presidential candidate - on NAIJ.com TV: