By Onome Oghenetega
Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, Delta State Deputy Governor, has reacted to media reports on his quest to become the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Mr. Atiku Abubarkar.
He denied lobbying to be nominated as Atiku’s running mate.
Some groups including the Southern Nigeria Liberation Movement have been drumming support and pressurising critical stakeholders of the PDP for Otuaro to become Atiku’s VP for the 2023 general elections.
Otuaro’s boss, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, is reported to be interested and currently lobbying to become Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP.
Okowa deputy’s denial is coming on the heels of alleged clash of interest between the duo following the fallout of the PDP governorship primaries where Otuaro sort to become the party’s standard bearer.
But reacting to the development on Sunday, Otuaro urged Deltans and Nigerians in general to disregard lobbying to be nominated as Atiku’s running mate for the 2023 presidential elections.
The Ijaw-born politician stated that those calling for his nomination as vice presidential candidate of the party did not consult him before doing so.
The deputy governor in a statement by the Director of media and publicity of the Kingsley Burutu Otuaro (KBO) Campaign Organisation, Mr. Arex Akemotubo, said he was presently preoccupied helping Governor Okowa “to finish strong”.
While warning “mischief makers” to stop dropping his name for selfish gains, he added his desire “is to support the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa to finish strong politically and in the provision of infrastructures for Delta State.”
