Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, on Friday revealed the antics orchestrated by Ayu to ensure the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate during the PDP primaries.
He claimed that if not for his and others in his camp’s love for the main opposition party, they could have prevented the PDP convention from taking place.
Wike claimed that the PDP’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, played a critical role in the emergence of Atiku as PDP flagbearer, to the detriment of other aspirants.
The governor claimed that Ayu asked several presidential candidates to step down for the former vice president during the convention.
“He was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku. I was there, Saraki and others were there.
“He manipulated the delegates. There was nothing Ayu did not do to ensure Wike didn’t emerge,” Wike said.
The governor added, “Meetings upon meetings were going. Pressures were being mounted on people to step down.
“Even on the night of the convention meetings were going on. That is why we started our convention late.
“Some of the retired generals were involved. Some of the meetings were held in their houses. There is nothing they didn’t do for me to step down.
“Those who know me, know that I would have stopped the convention, even if heaven falls.”