There is confusion currently in the camp of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as political horse-trading continued yesterday in Rivers State as Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) met with Governor Nyesom Wike.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) were among those who stormed the Ada George residence of their Rivers counterpart.
The agenda of the visit was not however revealed to reporters as the meeting was private one. The high-profile politicians were said to have gone into a close door meeting shortly after the visitors’ arrival.
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Sources close to Wike told reporters that the visitors to the Governor were led by former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose.
Fayose has been very vocal about the presidency returning back to the south.
It has been rumoured that Wike has plans to defect to APC, having lost his bid to become Atiku’s presidential running mate.
The ruling All Progressives Congress is scrambling to bring in more powerful politicians as general election preparations for 2023 heat up. Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, was visited by three governors running for the party on Friday in an effort to persuade him to join.
Wike is reportedly unhappy with the results of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primaries, which saw Atiku Abubakar win the nomination while he finished as the first runner-up. The pick of Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta State, as Atiku’s running mate is also believed to have irked the governor despite the committee’s favouritism of Okowa.
The aftermath of the primary led to a deep crack in the party with some members, believed to be loyal to Wike, calling for the resignation of the national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu and substitution of Okowa’s name with Wike as the running mate.
The absence of Atiku, who has been on vacation abroad, is also said to be exacerbating the crisis, as many believe he should have met Wike in person and play a critical role in uniting the party before the crisis escalates.
