Nigerian opposition candidate Abubakar picks 2019 election running mate News Via Prosodiacmusic9ja

FILE PHOTO: Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, attends the national convention of Nigeria's opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the southern city of Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta The main opposition challenger to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in next year's election has selected a former governor from the southeast of the country to be his running mate, the candidate's spokesman said on Friday. Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president who will stand as the candidate for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 2019 vote, chose Peter Obi, formerly governor of the southeastern state of Anambra. The choice points to a strategy to generate support in the southeast, where Buhari has polled badly in past elections and cracked down on secessionists by deploying troops on the streets. Geographical affiliations are crucial in a sprawling nation of 190 million people from 250 ethnic groups. Obi, a 57-year-old who was governor of Anambra from 2006-2014, had a background in business prior to entering politics, including a stint as chairman of Nigeria's Fidelity Bank. "Mr. Obi's choice was largely influenced by his youthfulness, vast knowledge of global and local economics as well as being a financial expert, all experience which Nigeria is in great need at this point in time," Abubakar's spokesman said. "This ticket will be able to steer our nation back on the path of progress, economic prosperity and unity."