spot_img

2023: Why Wike, Makinde, Ortom, Others Can’t Join APC – PDP

Date:

Share:

- Advertisement -

Against insinuations that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has resolved to back the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have dismissed the possibility of Wike turning his back on his party.

Wike, leading a pack of four other PDP governors and chieftains, had made it clear that campaigning for Atiku was a no-deal unless the incumbent National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, was removed from office.

The Rivers governor and his counterparts in Oyo, Benue, Abia and Enugu states, Seyi Makinde, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, respectively, are bent on Ayu’s ouster on the ground that the PDP presidential candidate and party chairman should not come from the same regional bloc.

In September, the governors and other key stakeholders of the party, including former governors Donald Duke (Cross River), Jonah Jang (Plateau), and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) as well as a former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana; a former PDP Board of Trustees Chairman, Chief Bode George, and a host of others resigned their membership of the presidential campaign council in a bid to prevail on Atiku to mount pressure on Ayu to resign.

However, the former vice president chose to keep his distance, insisting that only Ayu could determine whether to stay on or not.

Meanwhile, there were insinuations that following the failure of Atiku to heed the counsel of the aggrieved party leaders, Governor Wike had resolved to support the candidacy of Tinubu, believing his chances were brighter than that of the Labour Party candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

Also Read:  HARDSHIP: 'We'll Embark On Strike, Nothing Will Stop It' - Labour Insists On 14-Day Ultimatum Despite Meeting Minister

Sources privy to this development confided in our correspondent that Wike would remain a member of PDP but would mobilise support for Tinubu in Rivers.

The governor had a few weeks ago said the PDP in Rivers would rally round all candidates for the House of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship elections, adding that until the right thing was done, Atiku remained a loner in the oil-rich state.

“PDP will win our state. I am not hiding it as far as the governorship, House of Representatives, Senate and state Assembly are concerned. The other one, we have not decided, until the right thing is done,” Wike had said.

Also, at the commissioning of the Rukpokwu-Igwuruta Link Road located in the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers state a fortnight ago, Wike caused panic in the camp of Atiku when he asked the mammoth crowd that came out to witness the event, some troubling questions.

 “Then the other one (presidential election), I will come and tell you where you will vote. All I will tell you is, don’t worry, calm down. Those that I mentioned, make sure you vote for them. Very soon, we will meet at our houses and take a decision about where we are going. You will work for a party that has come to your aid, a party that has brought dividends of democracy,” he added.

Also Read:  ‘She’s A Rare Gem, Woman Of Compassion’, Agboworin Celebrates Alhaja Bosede Adedibu On Birthday Anniversary

But speaking with our correspondent on the development, the spokesman of the National Election Management Committee of the Presidential Campaign Council, Dino Melaye, ruled out Wike’s defection to any party even as he insisted that talks of reconciliation between the two camps were ongoing.

“We are still talking and he (Wike) is not defecting,” Melaye said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Director of Strategic Communication of the PDP Campaign Council, Chief Dele Momodu, said he would respond whenever the governor made his position clear on the matter.

“I can’t respond until he (Wike) does,” he added, even as he said he knew nothing about the rumoured plan of the governor to align forces with the APC presidential candidate.

Atiku’s ally and Director General, Borno House-to-House for Atiku/Okowa campaign organisation, Mustapha Shehu, said the PCC had since moved on, adding that the Rivers State governor was not “as important as he thinks he is.”

“The message on almost every street is that Atiku is the preferred candidate of Nigerians. This is one of the reasons Atiku decided to move on without the G-5 (governors) even though his door remains open for reconciliation. In the current scheme of things, it is becoming evident that Wike is not as important as he thinks he is,” he added.

Also Read:  Oyo-Iyaloja General, Princess Abeo, Praises Makinde For Securing 700 Free Shops For Roadside Traders

However, a close associate of Governor Samuel Ortom who did not want to be named told our correspondent that the possibility of Wike working with Tinubu should not be ruled out.

He said, “Governor Wike is passionate about the presidency moving to the South in 2023.  If you have ever been in a meeting where he made this argument, you will understand this. It is difficult to convince him that there is an alternative to a southern presidency. He supported the North in 2019 by openly backing the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal. He expected the favour to be returned to the South this time but that did not happen.

“It is a shame that Ayu, who should have quietly resigned to assuage the fears of these leaders, is sitting tight. Maybe Wike has chosen to demonstrate to everyone that he means business. If Ayu is staying on and Atiku is not ready to do anything about it. I think Wike will support Tinubu. One thing is certain, he will not leave the PDP.”


...Join our WhatsApp group here to get more interesting stories (Click Here)

━ more like this

Queens School Ibadan ‘Elegant Ladies’ Hold 50th Anniversary, Vow To Continually Give Back To Alma Mater

The 1970-1974 set of Queens School Ibadan Elegant Ladies has marked their 50th anniversary with a reunion and philanthropic gesture, giving back to their...

Security: Agboworin’s Solar-Powered Street Lights Excite Constituents As Residents Appreciate Lawmaker

The constituents of Ibadan SouthEast/NorthEast are currently rejoicing and basking in the euphoria of the additional solar-powered street lights installed by the federal lawmaker...

PDP CRISIS: Opposition Lawmakers Back Emergence Of Yayari As Acting Chairman, Okays Damagun’s Sack

Spokesperson of Nigeria opposition lawmakers coalition has backed the emergence of Yayari as PDP Acting Chair, and as well expressing their full support for...

Idẹra De Group, Oyo Traders, and Pepper Millers Association Declare Support for Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi’s Gubernatorial Ambition

The "Idera De Brothers and Sisters" group, alongside the Eleyele Market Traders and the Association of Corn and Pepper Millers of Oyo State (Ibadan...

Wellspring University To Induct 149 Graduates, Hold Convocation Oct 18

The Vice Chancellor of Wellspring University, Benin, Prof. Isaac Ajayi, has said that graduates of the institution in computer science, software engineering and cybersecurity...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

WP Twitter Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com