BREAKING: Atiku announces Delta Governor Okowa as running mate
Okowa and Atiku
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has announced Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
He made the announcement on Thursday via his social media handles.
Abubakar posted, “I am delighted to announce Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa as my Vice Presidential candidate.
“I look forward to travelling our great country together, engaging with all Nigerians and building a shared future of peace, unity, and prosperity for all. As One We Can Get It Done. #OneNigeria.”
Earlier, Okowa was welcomed to the PDP’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday with congratulatory remarks.
Okowa was at the PDP Headquarters to attend the party’s Vice Presidential screening.
The PUNCH had reported that Okowa and two other PDP top members would be screened today as the party searches for a running mate for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Some party members, who welcomed Okowa into the building, were heard saying ‘congratulations’.
The PUNCH had reported that Okowa is the favourite to emerge as Atiku’s running mate.
Apart from Okowa, others reportedly shortlisted are Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike and the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.
Abubakar on Saturday, May 28, emerged as the PDP candidate for 2023 presidential election.
Abubakar scored 371 votes to emerge as the party’s candidate defeating his close contender, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, who polled 237 votes.
Born on November 25, 1946, in Jada, Adamawa, Abubakar ran for Governor of the state three times in 1990, 1997 and 1998, when he was elected before becoming the running mate to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, which he remained the vice president till 2003.
Abubakar contested for the office of the president several times, including 2014 when he ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and lost in the primaries to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also run as the PDP presidential candidate in 2019 but lost to President Buhari of APC.
Source: PUNCH
BIO
Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa was born on the 8th Of July, 1959 at Owa-Alero in the present Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State. He had his early education at the Iroro primary school, Owa-Alero and later attended the famous Edo College, Benin City between 1970 and 1976. He graduated with the second best result in the Higher School Certificate Examination in the then Bendel State in 1976.
Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan to study Medicine and Surgery, where he graduated in 1981 with MBBS, at the record age of 22. Upon completion of the National Youth Service Corps in 1982; he worked briefly with the defunct Bendel State Hospitals Management Board as a Medical Officer before he went into private practice as Director, Victory Medical Centre, Igbanke in 1986. He went on to open another branch at Boji-Boji, Owa.
Dr. Okowa’s humanitarian and philanthropic disposition over the years endeared him to his people as he often rendered free medical services to the poor in his community. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa displays highly developed craftsmanship in his approach to work and challenges and this is evident in his constructive leadership and in his growing political profile.
POLITICAL PROFILE
Served as Secretary to Ika Local Government Area.
1993 – Served as Chairman Ika North East Local Government Council.
1999 – Served as Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources.
2001 – Served as Honourable Commission for Water Resources Development.
2003 – Served as Honourable Commissioner for Health.
2007 – Served as Secretary to Delta State Government.
2011 – Served as a Senator from Delta South Senatorial district
2015 – Currently serving as the Executive Governor Of Delta State