Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, has picked Doyin Okupe as his running mate.

Mr Okupe told Peoples Gazette on Friday evening that Mr Obi picked him because he found him worthy to serve.

“Yes, I am the vice-presidential candidate of our party because I was found worthy by the candidate and the party to serve,” he said to The Gazette by telephone Friday evening.

Mr Okupe has backed Mr Obi’s aspiration for several months and served recently as his key ally and campaign manager. He hailed from Ogun and was a political aide to President Goodluck Jonathan.

Shortly after The Gazette reported Mr Okupe’s status on the Labour ticket, he said on Twitter that he was only selected to be the nominee until ongoing merger talks with other political parties were resolved.

Labour has been in talks with Rabiu Kwankwaso’s NNPP for a possible alliance, but nothing concrete has been achieved as of Friday night. It remained unclear whether or not an agreement would be reached before the final deadline for the nomination of candidates set by the electoral office INEC.