In a recent interview, Atiku explained that his decision was rooted in the party’s process, which involved consulting with leaders and governors, including Wike and Aminu Tambuwal.
Atiku recalled the criticism he faced in 2019 for not consulting widely enough when selecting Peter Obi as his running mate. After securing the PDP ticket in Port Harcourt, he consulted with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who advised him to pick a running mate from the South-East instead of the South-West. Obasanjo suggested prominent figures like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Charles Soludo, but both were not PDP members. Eventually, Atiku chose Peter Obi, a party member suggested by Obasanjo.
In 2023, Atiku decided to give the party more involvement in the selection process. He asked the party to set up a committee to recommend three possible running mates.
The committee suggested Ifeanyi Okowa as the first choice, Wike as the second, and Udom Emmanuel as the third. Atiku opted for Okowa, explaining that his decision not to choose Wike was simply because he was the second choice on the list.
When asked if he regretted not picking Wike, Atiku responded firmly: “No, not at all.”