2023: Atiku recruits dx-PDP governors, leaders to pacify Wike’s camp

A report by Leadership says indications have emerged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has engaged some party leaders, including former governors of the party, to help woo the aggrieved camp led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

Telescope.ng gathered that the former vice president met with the party leaders on Tuesday, October 11, over how to ensure that the Wike camp returns to the fold and help ensure they work together during the polls.

A source knowledgeable about the meeting said a former governor of Delta State was at the meeting alongside five other party leaders at a private residence in Maitama, a highbrow area in Abuja. It was learnt that the presidential candidate went to the meeting with only close confidants.

The main issue discussed was how to woo the Wike camp to return to the fold because it is clear that the party needs all of them on board,” the source said.

The source added that the party leaders were mindful of the impact of not having the governors onboard for the campaign, especially as they would also help with funding.

When contacted, Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said he was not aware of the meeting.

Governor Wike and four of his colleagues, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), had alongside other party leaders distanced themselves from the party’s presidential campaign council.

They insist on the resignation of Dr Iyorchia Ayu as the PDP national chairman to pave way for southerner to take his place for geopolitical balance.

Wike’s camp had underlined its threat not to associate with the party’s campaign activities as it stayed away from the official flag- off of the party’s presidential campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State yesterday.

While Ayu has insisted on serving out his four-year tenure, with the National Executive Committee (NEC) at its last meeting passing a vote of confidence in his leadership.

It was, however, gathered that the new effort to woo the Wike camp could have forced the party to reschedule its campaign rallies for Kebbi and Zamfara States today. It was learnt that the directorate fixed a meeting for late yesterday night to restrategise on its rallies.

A spokesperson for the Atiku Campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, confirmed to LEADERSHIP that the rallies for Kebbi and Zamfara had been rescheduled.

Ologbondiyan said: “The campaign for Kebbi and Zamfara was rescheduled. The campaign is fully on course. PDP and our candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, are fully focused on rescuing Nigeria from the utter maladministration of the APC.”

However, Atiku’s meeting with the party leaders came as indications emerged that the Board of Trustees (BoT) may have submitted their report on reconciliation of assignment yesterday.

Another party source told Leadership that the advisory body was billed to submit the report to the party yesterday.

He added that it is likely that the body might request for more time to work out a reconciliation deal.

However, when contacted, the BoT chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, neither responded to text messages sent to him nor picked his calls.

When the BoT met Wike last week, Leadership learned that the Rivers State governor had insisted on Ayu’s resignation, requesting that the BoT, a father of the party, should tell the national chairman to go and allow a party chairman from the South to emerge.