2023: Wike Mobilises Five Governors To Stop Atiku, Saraki

As the 2023 presidential race gathers momentum, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is all out to stop former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, erstwhile Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and other contenders for the party’s ticket from the North.    

Multiple high-level party sources told Daily Trust that Wike, who they described as the sole financier of the main opposition party has reached out to many of his colleagues on this agenda.

A source with knowledge of the permutations said the Rivers State governor was all out to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the South.

Daily Trust reports that two sitting governors who are members of the party are interested in the PDP presidential ticket. They are Governors of Sokoto, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Bauchi, Bala Mohammed.

Also interested in the ticket are former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State.

Saraki, Daily Trust, gathered has been reaching out to stalwarts of the party ahead of his formal declaration for the presidency.

A source close to him said Saraki, former Governor of Kwara State, would soon declare for the presidential race.    

Daily Trust reports that the move by Wike to stop Atiku underlined the role he played in the emergence of Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after sacking the Uche Secondus-led executive.

The governors, the most influential power bloc, under the umbrella of the PDP Governors’ Forum, ensured the emergence of their candidates.

Through the scheming and machinations of the 13 governors of the party, 18 out of the 21 positions were filled through consensus. With this, pundits said the governors have taken over the soul of the main opposition party ahead of the 2023 politicking.

The 13 governors are; Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).

Last Monday, Wike hosted the PDP governors at the Government House, Port Harcourt as part of what watchers of the political space said was a continuation of their efforts to shape the 2023 politicking.

The Port Harcourt meeting came after Wike’s recent visits to Bauchi, Adamawa, Sokoto, Abia, Enugu, Oyo, and Bayelsa States.

Wike’s visits to some of his counterparts was said to be intended to woo the governors in his bid to perfect the plot.

Our source said the governor has recruited five of his colleagues into the project.

Wike is believed to have the support of governors Benue, Enugu, Oyo, Abia and Adamawa.

“In his camp now, he has five governors. Nobody can challenge him now because he has been funding the party. Who has total control of the NWC of our party? It’s Wike,” the source said.

A former senator said the governors are working hard to ensure that one of them picks the party’s ticket.

“I want to be frank with you, nobody is talking about Atiku now because the governors said they don’t want him because he is above 70. They want someone who can relate well with them and has the energy to withstand the challenges bedeviling the country,” he said.

But while these schemings by the governors and Wike to stop Atiku are are on, that the contenders have continued with consultation, with some of them said to be warming up to retire.

High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman, DAAR Communications, has been leading Atiku’s team across the country to canvass support for the presidential ambition of the former vice president.

The Dokpesi -led team has visited many states across the country. During the committee’s visit to Anambra State on Saturday, Atiku was described as the only aspirant that can lead PDP to victory.

Contacted, Saraki’s media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said he has no comment on the matter.

We are not aware – Atiku’s aide

Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe said they are not aware of the moves by Wike to stop his boss.

He told Daily Trust that his boss enjoys the support of the Rivers State governor and other top shots.    

“We are not aware of any such move. Atiku Abubakar enjoys the support of a good number of stakeholders in the PDP including Governor Wike. The focus of every stakeholder in the opposition party at this point is to rescue Nigeria and Nigerians from the claws of bad governance that the APC has thrown the country into.

“And like all patriots and stakeholders in the Nigeria Project, the priority of H.E Atiku Abubakar and indeed the PDP is to recruit eggheads who will come up with brilliant policy plans that can turn the current state of mass poverty, insecurity, divisions and hopelessness into prosperity and unity for Nigerians,” he said.

But another source close to the former vice president said Atiku was aware of the scheming.

He said Atiku would declare for the presidency when his Technical Committee on the 2023 project submits its report.

“If it is not consensus, Atiku will defeat all of them at the primary election,” he said.

But, a former Commissioner of Information in Edo State, Kassim Afegbua, has urged Atiku to dump his presidential ambition and support a southern candidate.

Source: Daily Trust

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