On Sunday, the Rivers State Labour Party announced Kaninee Barikpoa as Beatrice Itubo's running mate for governor.
Barikpoa comes from Rivers State's Khana Local Government Area, which has one of the state's major voting blocs.
Barikpoa was chosen to balance the “political equation” in the State, according to Felix Reuben, Vice Chairman (South South) of the Labour party.
According to him, “the woman (candidate) is from Rivers West so we decided to choose a running mate from the Rivers South East.
“He is a young and vibrant man, he is not dependent on politics, he is a man that has been made by himself and those are the people we are looking for”.
Speaking earlier during the event, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Itubo said she has been pressured severally to withdraw from the race but she rejected the call.
“Some people are saying how can a woman lead the State and I asked them since the creation of Rivers State in 1967, when I was less than three years old, where have the men led us to?” She queried.
In a remark, the deputy governorship candidate promised to bring value to the ticket.