Atiku engages ex-PDP govs, others to woo Wike, others

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has engaged former governors of the party among other respected party leaders to help woo the aggrieved camp led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

Atiku was said to have met with the party leaders on Tuesday over how to ensure that the Wike camp returns to the fold and help ensure they work together during the polls.

A former governor of Delta State was reported to have attended the meeting along with five other party leaders at a private residence in Maitama, a highbrow area of Abuja.

The main issue discussed was how to woo the Wike camp to the main PDP fold having realized that the party would need all of them on board.

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 have insisted on the resignation of Dr Iyorchia Ayu as the PDP national chairman to pave the 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 on Monday.

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

It was also 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.

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.”

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.