The National Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu on Tuesday said the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar picked the governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate because of his humility and more excellent performance.

Ayu, who spoke during the Northern Christian Youth Assembly Summit in Abuja, said Atiku picked Okowa as his running mate above his Rivers counterpart, Nyesom Wike, because of his humility and more excellent performance in office.

“We looked around and we thought we have to give not just a vice president that will assist him (Atiku) but we did our homework to select a man who is highly educated, very humble, and who has done very well as a governor in his home state.

“Okowa is the most qualified running mate. It is on his own personal merit that he was selected by the party as the vice presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar.

“I think Nigeria will be very lucky to have two such people who are committed to development who are detribalized who believe in uniting this country,” Ayu said

The main opposition party’s chairman statement came against the backdrop of his face-off with the Governor of Rivers Wike, which has polarized the party ahead of the 2023 general election.

Wike had asked that Ayu step down as the party chairman following the emergence of Abubakar as the presidential candidate, saying the top hierarchy of the party tilted against the southern part of the country.

Wike accused the party of violating the principles of equity, fairness and balance, noting that the laws guiding the party have been trampled upon.