The ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has received set back as the camp of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has announced its withdrawal from participating in the party’s presidential campaign
Wike’s camp made this decision after a meeting that lasted for over six hours at the Governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt.
During the meeting, the camp agreed to back out of the campaign council unless the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu resigns for a southern candidate.
OYOMIND recalls that Makinde, who is also part of Wike’s group reiterated to the hearing of Atiku last week that Ayu, who is from the North must resign for a Southern candidate since Atiku who is also from the north got the party’s presidential ticket.
Some members of the group were recently appointed as leaders and members of the campaign council for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Present at this defining gathering at Wike’s residence in Port Harcourt include Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; former Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Donald Duke of Cross River, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe and Jonah Jang of Plateau, former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.
Others at the meeting are elder statesmen, Olabode George, Jerry Gana; South-South Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche; Senator Suleiman Nazif, Nnenna Ukeje, among several others.
After over seven hours of private meeting from 7pm on Tuesday, September 20 to past 2 am on Wednesday, September 21, they gather to brief journalists on the outcome, with George stating the shocker.
The decision of the Rivers governor’s camp comes some days to September 28, the official date for candidates to kick-off campaign as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
