Peter Obi, now Atiku running mate

Former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, has emerged the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Obi was officially announced PDP’S vice presidential candidate on Friday after a closed-door meeting between both men.

Atiku, a former Vice President had on Sunday emerged PDP presidential candidate.

Soon after his emergence several names had flooded the media space as those he could possibly choose from as his running mate.

Among the names were Peter Obi; Femi Adesina, a former Agriculture Minister; and Ngozi Okonjo-Iwuala, a former, Minister of Finance among others.

With Obi’s emergence, Atiku may now be assured of a huge support from the South-East, and possibly from their South-South neighbours also.

While Ohanaeze Ndigbo will be happy that their demand for an Igbo vice president from PDP has been met, what is not totally clear is how the South-West will react to the development.

Atiku’s choice of Obi came a day after former President Olusegun Obasanjo announced that he had forgiven the PDP presidential candidate and was now ready to support his ambition.

Atiku served as Vice President during Obasanjo’s administration between 1999 to 2007. The duo had however remained political enemies until the Thursday forgiveness.

Some Nigerians believe that whoever Obasanjo supports always emerges president. In 2007 he supported lated President Musa Yar’Adua, former President Goodluck Jonathan had his support when he emerged president in 2011, a support incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari also enjoyed in 2015.