Five Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his allies Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, Governor Ifeanyi of Enugu State including top members of the National Working Committee of the party all stayed away from Atiku Abubakar Presidential campaign flag off in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
Truthlive.net correspondent in Uyo reported that other top party Chieftains of the main opposition party were also conspicuously absent at the official Launch of the Atiku Campaign in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital on Monday deepening the crisis in the party.
Amongst those party eggheads who were missing are the Deputy National Chairman South Taofeek Arapaja, PDP, National Vice Chairman South West, and National Vice Chairman South South Chief Dan Orbih.
Also, the Rivers State PDP Governorship candidate Siminialaye Fubara and the entire PDP Rivers State Exco, as well as the Cross River PDP Governorship Candidate Sandy Onor and the PDP Cross River Exco all boycotted Atiku’s campaign launch in Uyo and many other leaders of the party who are loyal to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State
Some top BoT members like Bode George, Jerry Gana, former governors of Ekiti, Cross River, Ondo, Plateau, and Gombe states, Ayo Fayose, Donald Duke, Segun Mimiko, Jonah Jang, and Ibrahim Dankwambo, respectively were all not in Uyo.
Many National Assembly members loyal to Gov Wike as well as many other former ministers from the party’s platform also stayed away.
Several talks to pacify the Wike camp appear to have hit the wall as the aggrieved governor has shunned the party’s activities, indicating that he won’t support Atiku’s presidential ambition.
Governor Wike had given conditions for peace to reign in the party. One of which is that the National Chairman of the party Ayu Iyorchia resigns his position as the leader of the party amongst other conditions.
Ayu on his part has refused to step down as he had earlier promised, that if a northerner wins the primary he would step down.
Several other party Chieftain has stood behind Wike by calling for Ayu’s resignation but the National chairman has remained adamant about the calls.
Campaigns for the 2023 general election officially commenced on 28 September in line with the timetable and schedule of activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).