Wike claims certain people in Nigeria's presidency are behind Atiku's candidacy

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has alleged that certain characters in Nigeria's presidency are backing former vice president and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his quest to become the country's leader.

In late June at its annual convention in Abuja, the PDP, elected Alhaji Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election. Governor Wike was a candidate in that election but he was beaten into second place and to make matters worse for him, he was not then picked as the party's running mate.

With Alhaji Abubakar opting to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, Governor Wike has been on the war path and there are now fears that he will dump the PDP. Among other things, he has been fraternizing with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  lately, amid talk of him possibly decamping

Over the last three weeks, there have been a series of meetings in London to resolve the crisis, with Atiku flying to the UK to meet with Governor Wike in person. Wading into the crisis, the PDP gubernatorial aspirants met with Governor Wike at his private residence in Rumueprikon, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state and appealed to him to support the party's presidential candidate, as well as its national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

However, Governor Wike is refusing to sheath his sword and remains adamant that Senator Ayu should step down if the Atiku camp is really interested in resolving the crisis. Governor recently revealed that hours after the Abuja primary, Atiku told him that Ayu will go because it is unfair that the flagbearer and chairman are from the same region.

With Senator Ayu showing no sign that he is ready to stand down, last week, the PDP's national executive committee passed a vote of confidence in him last week, indicating, he has their support. Charles Aniagwu, an Atiku Abubakar campaign organisation spokesman, stated that sacking Senator Ayu would have deepened the party’s crisis.

While some party chieftains believe the party should placate Governor Wike, others warn of the legal issues that could emerge and distract the campaign ahead of the general polls. Governor Wike has accused the Atiku camp of arrogance and claimed somebody in the presidency was backing the ambition of the Wazirin Adamawa.

Governor Wike said: “I will tell Nigerians at the appropriate time the person in the presidency that is backing them.”

Governors loyal to Wike, including Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), are not shifting ground. Governor Makinde has turned down an offer to become the chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, while Governor Ugwuanyi is also not keen to serve as Atiku's presidential campaign secretary.