Wike and several other PDP governors hold private meeting with Peter Obi in Abuja

SEVERAL Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders have met with the presidential candidate of the Labour Party former Anambra State governor Peter Obi heightening fears of a mass defection ahead of next year's elections.

In late June, the PDP elected former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election at its annual convention in Abuja. He has since picked Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate, which has caused some consternation in the party as many members are unhappy with the ticket.

For starters, Alhaji Abubakar is a Fulani Muslim and if he wins, he will be taking over from President Muhammadu Buhari, another Fulani Muslim. To make matters worse, the former vice president picked Governor Okowa as his running mate ahead of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who came second to him in the primaries and who was expecting to get the nod.

Already. several party leaders, including the Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and former Plateau State governor Jonah Jang, have criticised the choice of Governor Okowa as the party’s vice presidential candidate. More worryingly, there are now fears that Governor Wike might work against Atiku’s ambition following his loss.

Signs that the PDP might run into stormy waters became pronounced with the defection of some of Governor Wike’s supporters from the party. Aside from the resignations of two Wike allies including former Niger Delta minister  Godsday Orubebe and an ex-commissioner in Edo State, Kassim Afegbua, a mass exodus of party members is feared to be looming.

To make matters worse, last night, Governor Obi met with the Governor Wike and several other PDP leaders including former Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko. Others in attendance included former governors Donald Duke and Ibrahim Dankwanbo, Governor  Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and ex-attorney-general Mohammed Adoke.

Of late, Governor Wike's body language has indicated that he may defect from the PDP as he has been meeting with governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress over recent weeks. he has even invited several of them to come and commission projects in Rivers State.