Atiku raises team to pacify Wike, others

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has set up a committee to woo the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and some other aggrieved members of the party.

The initiative, according a Punch report, was instituted by Atiku based on the need to go into the 2023 general elections with a united front.

The opposition party has been rocked by crisis following the choice of the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as Atiku’s running mate.

Wike, Okowa and Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom had appeared before the screening panel set up by the PDP to nominate a vice-presidential candidate to the PDP presidential flagbearer.

Okowa was nominated by the PDP presidential candidate after rumours had it that Wike had been selected by the party advisory committee as the vice-presidential candidate the day before.

But findings indicate that the PDP feared Wike might work against Atiku’s ambition following his loss as the party presidential candidate and running mate to Atiku.

Signs that the PDP might run into stormy waters became pronounced with the defection of some of Wike’s supporters from the party in the last 24 hours.