Running mate: Eight reasons Atiku chose Okowa finally revealed

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has picked Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

Atiku picked Okowa on Thursday ahead of Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Okowa’s role in Atiku’s emergence

While his support for Atiku in the buildup to the presidential primary was not pronounced, many believed the Delta State governor rooted for and worked towards emergence of Atiku as the PDP presidential candidate.

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Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, hinted at this on Thursday in his tweet shortly before it became known that Atiku had picked Okowa as his running mate.

“Okowa played a key role in the victory of Atiku at the primaries and he is a cross between the South East and the South-South.

“Wike strongly emerged second, committed so much in sustaining the party and his ruggedness is an asset in the battle when it turns dirty. Any can be VP,” Sani tweeted.

Here are the things you should know about Ifeanyi Okowa:

1. Okowa was born at Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State.

2. He attended Edo College, Benin City (1970–1976) before proceeding to the University of Ibadan where he studied Medicine and Surgery, graduating in 1981 with an MBBS degree.

3. Okowa became Secretary to the Ika Local Government and then Chairman of the Ika North-East Local Government Council (1991–1993).

4. He is a three-time Commissioner in Delta State having served as a Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources (July 1999 to April 2001), Commissioner for Water Resources ( April 2001 – May 2003), and Commissioner for Health (September 2003- October 2006).

5. Okowa lost in his first attempt to become the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2007.

6. Having resigned as a Commissioner to contest the election in June 2007, Ifeanyi was subsequently appointed Secretary to the Delta State Government.

7. Ifeanyi finally clinched the ticket for the gubernatorial election in 2015 under the PDP with 406 votes on 8 December 2014. He won the Delta State Gubernatorial elections 2015 in April 2015 with 724,680 votes.

8. As a sitting Governor of Delta State in 2020, he established the University of Delta in his home town Agbor. He also set up the University of Science and Technology in Uzoro and Dennis. CONTINUE READING…