Wike’s Allies Are Waiting for a Directive as the PDP Launches Its Presidential Campaign Today

FastNews reports that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition party, is kicking off its presidential campaign for the 2023 general elections today in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State. Allies of Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike are awaiting his instructions on where to set up camp among the various parties vying for his support.

While Wike has vowed not to leave the PDP, he has also threatened not to endorse Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential nominee, unless Iyorchia Ayu resigns as national chairman.

Wike, who wants the po­sition of national chairman moved to the South, had con­sistently argued that Ayu can­not continue to preside over the affairs of the PDP as he is from the same Northern region as Atiku.

To press home their de­mands, Wike and his team which include Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ik­peazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom of Benue, former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Olabode George; for­mer Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana; ex-Gover­nors Donald Duke, Olusegun Mimiko and Jonah Jang of Cross River, Ondo and Plateau states, respectively, among oth­ers pulled out of the PDP pres­idential campaign team.

Despite a series of meetings, Wike and Atiku are yet to reach a truce, and efforts by stakehold­ers in the party to wade into the matter have yielded no positive result.

Wike’s action at the week­end where he signed the motion derecognizing Sir Ce­lestine Omehia as a former governor of the state further proved that his war with Atiku is yet to be over.

Political analysts said Wike masterminded the action of the Assembly in derecognizing Omehia who is one of the PDP chieftains supporting Atiku in Rivers State.

Speaking with Daily Inde­pendent, a serving Commis­sioner in Rivers State, who asked not to be named, said PDP supporters in Rivers are solidly behind Wike and will go anywhere he directs them to go.

“Let them flag off the cam­paign. We wish them the best of luck. Whether River’s votes matter or not, we will know at the end of the election. On our part, we are waiting for direc­tives from the peoples’ General, His Excellency Nyesom Ezen­wo Wike. Wherever he goes, we go with him”, he said.

Speaking with Daily Inde­pendent, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, however, said the party’s reconciliation process is on course to bring all stake­holders together to work for the party’s victory in the presidential election.

“Those saying there is a crisis in the party do not know the facts. Number one, when you have a party like the PDP that is democratic, you are bound to have some differences. In any organization, that will surely happen. But what is most im­portant is that the PDP has a capacity for an internal resolution mechanism that has been very effective.

“Also the Board of Trust­ees are ready with their re­port. Unlike other parties, in PDP we don’t give directives because we are a democratic party. However, peace talks and negotiations take time because reconciliation is not a 100 meters dash. It is a mar­athon. We are on course and we are very confident that we will achieve the needed unity to begin and lead our party to victory in 2023.

“Irrespective of the differ­ences in opinion, we are united. All our leaders, governors, and stakeholders have all agreed that there is a need for all of us to come together to rescue and begin the hard work of rebuild­ing”, he said.

The Presidential Campaign Council is led by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel, as chairman while the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, is the Director-Gen­eral.

The party also named for­mer governor of Cross Rivers State, Liyel Imoke as Deputy-Di­rector General, Operations; for­mer National Secretary of the party, Prof Adewale Oladipo, as Deputy-Director, Adminis­tration; High Chief Raymond Dokpesi as Deputy-Director, Technical and Systems, while Okwesilieze Nwodo is ap­pointed as Deputy-Director, Research and Strategy of the National Campaign Manage­ment Committee.

Other members of the cam­paign council include former Vice President Namadi Sambo; former Presidents of the Sen­ate, Anyim Pius Anyim, David Mark, and Bukola Saraki, as well as members of the Nation­al Assembly, former governors, and former ministers.