Renowned sociopolitical activist Reno Omokri has weighed in on the missteps of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, highlighting the failure to nominate Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as the vice presidential candidate as the party’s pivotal mistake.
In a bold assertion, Omokri contended that Wike’s inclusion would have significantly bolstered PDP’s chances, securing electoral victories in key states such as Oyo, Abia, Rivers, Enugu, and Benue. Reflecting on the outcome, he underscored the significance of Wike’s potential impact on the electoral landscape.
“The biggest mistake we made in the PDP during the #NigerianElections2023 was not giving Wike the vice presidential slot of our party,” Omokri articulated. “By how many votes did we lose to the APC? Less than two million. If we had a running mate like Wike, we would have gotten that collectively from Rivers, Oyo, Abia, Enugu, and Benue with the G-5.”
Introspectively, he emphasized the pragmatic essence of political decision-making. “In politics, you do not do what you like to do. You do what you have to do,” Omokri explained, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of electoral strategy.
Furthermore, he underscored the incongruity of expecting an assertive figure like Wike to function in a subordinate capacity under normal circumstances. “Under normal circumstances, an alpha personality like Wike would be too assertive to be a follower,” he remarked. “I would not even support it if all things were equal.”
Omokri’s candid assessment delves into the heart of political strategizing, igniting discourse on the critical junctions that define electoral outcomes. As the echoes of the 2023 election reverberate, his insights compel reflection on the intersection of leadership, strategy, and the pursuit of political ascendancy.
