Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate, says he prefers a young person to be his running mate.

“I prefer younger people who have a lot to offer rather than (sic) recycling old hands. I want a competent person, and I am building a formidable team,” said Mr Obi during an interview on ARISE TV on Wednesday. 

Mr Obi will be 62 on July 19. Rabiu Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, will be 66 on October 21.

The LP presidential flag bearer also revealed that he had yet to decide on his running mate, stating that “consultation was still going on.” 

The former Anambra governor denied picking Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum as LP’s vice-presidential candidate.

“We are talking to quite a number of people, and Hakeem Baba-Ahmed is a capable hand. But I wish I can work with somebody who is younger,” he stated.

Mr Baba-Ahmed will turn 67 on September 11.

Mr Obi added, “I want people who can look me in the eye and disagree with me during cabinet meetings. People who have their own minds and ideas.”

His assertion came after Doyin Okupe, a chieftain of the LP, put to rest speculations of a “possible coalition” between Messrs Kwankwaso and Obi.

“That discussion or those discussions about merger, alliance, and all that was led by me from our side. It is dead. D-E-A-D! Dead and buried! Finished. It has been dead for four weeks,” stated Mr Okupe.