The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has picked former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as his running mate in the February 14, 2019 election.
Atiku, who won the PDP primaries on Sunday, reportedly held a closed-door meeting with Obi at his Abuja home on Friday afternoon. Obi had been on top of the list of those Atiku was said to be considering for the job.
Obi is said to have emerged the preferred choice of both the party and the candidate after series of consultations by stakeholders in the party and outside it.
This is according to an online BusinessDay report quoting a source in the know in the late afternoon on Friday.
Born on July 19, 1961, Obi was governor of Anambra State in Nigeria from March 17, 2006 to November 2, 2006, when he was impeached and from February 9, 2007 to May 29, 2007 after his impeachment was overturned. Although a fresh election was held on April 29, 2007, he was reappointed governor on June 14, 2007 after a court ruling that he should be allowed to complete a four-year term. He was reelected on February 6, 2010 for a second term as governor.
Obi attended Christ the King College, Onitsha where he completed his secondary school education. He was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1980, graduating with a B.A (Hons) in philosophy in 1984.
Also a businessman, he became Chairman of Next International Nigeria Ltd, then Chairman and Director of Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd, Guardian Express Bank Plc, Future View Securities Ltd, Paymaster Nigeria Ltd, Chams Nigeria Ltd, Data Corp Ltd and Card Centre Ltd. He was the youngest Chairman of Fidelity Bank PLC.
He is married to Margaret Brownson Usen with whom his has children.