PDP crisis: Wike's group withdraws from Atiku campaign
A group of PDP members, led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, have reportedly withdrawn their participation in the party's presidential campaign committee for the 2023 elections.
The group's position was revealed by a former PDP national vice-president, Olabode George, after hours of meetings, which began Tuesday evening and ended Wednesday morning, according to a report by Channels television.
The meeting, held at Mr Wike's private residence in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, came less than a week after the party nominated some members of the group on Atiku's presidential campaign committee.
Some members of the group include the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who was appointed Vice Chairman (South) of the same committee.
But the group leader, Mr. Wike, was made a member of the committee.
Party members who attended the meeting are Mr Makinde, former governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Donald Duke of Cross River, Ibrahim Dakwambo of Gombe and Jonah Jang of Plateau, and a former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.
Others are a former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, South-South PDP Chairman Dan Orbih, a former Deputy Speaker of House Representative Chibudom Nwuche, among others.
The members of the group have sworn not to participate in the campaign committee in any capacity, except that the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, leaves his post for a southerner.
The party was mired in a leadership crisis after the party's presidential primary where Atiku floored Mr. Wike and other aspirants in the race to become the party's presidential candidate.
Mr. Wike's group is demanding the resignation of the national president, but Mr. Ayu has insisted that he was elected for a four-year term.
Governors are calling for Mr. Ayu's resignation to achieve "regional balance", since the party chairman and Mr. Atiku are both from the north.
Already the chairman of the board of directors (BoT) of the party, Walid Jibrin, also from Nasarawa state in the north, has resigned.
The vice president, Adolphus Wabara, former president of the senate of Abia state in the south-east, acts as chairman of the BoT.
However, Camp Wike is unimpressed with Mr. Jibrin's resignation, insisting that it is Mr. Ayu who should step down.
The PDP has yet to respond to the latest decision by its members loyal to Governor Rivers to withdraw from the Atiku campaign.
Party spokesperson Debo Ologunagba can be reached for comment.
Misters Atiku and Ayu are currently out of Nigeria.
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A group of PDP members, led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, have reportedly withdrawn their participation in the party's presidential campaign committee for the 2023 elections.
The group's position was revealed by a former PDP national vice-president, Olabode George, after hours of meetings, which began Tuesday evening and ended Wednesday morning, according to a report by Channels television.
The meeting, held at Mr Wike's private residence in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, came less than a week after the party nominated some members of the group on Atiku's presidential campaign committee.
Some members of the group include the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, who was appointed Vice Chairman (South) of the same committee.
But the group leader, Mr. Wike, was made a member of the committee.
Party members who attended the meeting are Mr Makinde, former governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Donald Duke of Cross River, Ibrahim Dakwambo of Gombe and Jonah Jang of Plateau, and a former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.
Others are a former Minister of Information, Jerry Gana, South-South PDP Chairman Dan Orbih, a former Deputy Speaker of House Representative Chibudom Nwuche, among others.
The members of the group have sworn not to participate in the campaign committee in any capacity, except that the national chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, leaves his post for a southerner.
The party was mired in a leadership crisis after the party's presidential primary where Atiku floored Mr. Wike and other aspirants in the race to become the party's presidential candidate.
Mr. Wike's group is demanding the resignation of the national president, but Mr. Ayu has insisted that he was elected for a four-year term.
Governors are calling for Mr. Ayu's resignation to achieve "regional balance", since the party chairman and Mr. Atiku are both from the north.
Already the chairman of the board of directors (BoT) of the party, Walid Jibrin, also from Nasarawa state in the north, has resigned.
The vice president, Adolphus Wabara, former president of the senate of Abia state in the south-east, acts as chairman of the BoT.
However, Camp Wike is unimpressed with Mr. Jibrin's resignation, insisting that it is Mr. Ayu who should step down.
The PDP has yet to respond to the latest decision by its members loyal to Governor Rivers to withdraw from the Atiku campaign.
Party spokesperson Debo Ologunagba can be reached for comment.
Misters Atiku and Ayu are currently out of Nigeria.
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