PDP Crisis: Governors Wike, Ortom, Makinde, Okezie In London; To Meet Atiku

By Adesina Soyooye

There is an air of excitement  in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, especially, in the camp of its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Four PDP Governors, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom of Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, are in London for a meeting. Also in London  are other PDP stakeholders.

Even though it is not known why they are in London, there are strong speculations they are there for a reconciliation meeting with the Party’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who is also in London.

The PDP has been engrossed in crisis since its Presidential Primary, and especially, since Atiku, to the disappointment of many ignored the recommendation of a Committee set-up by him and the PDP to choose his running mate. The Committee had, overwhelmingly, chosen Wike who came a respectable second in the Primary, and has been a strong pillar of the Party. But Atiku ignored their recommendation and settled for Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Since then,  Wike has said no word. Instead, his private residence in Porthacourt has become a go-to for Politicians from across Political Party lines.

From the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to that of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso to three Governors of the All Progressives, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, his house has  become a Mecca of sorts. And it has caused a lot of discomfort within the PDP.

After the visit by the three APC Governors to him on Friday, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, dismissed the trip to Porthacourt on the part of the Governors as a waste of time. He insisted that the PDP would never allow the APC to snatch Wike away. “Wike is going nowhere”, he declared on Saturday.

It is hoped by the Party’s teeming supporters that the meeting in London would enable them sort their differences out.

This magazine gathered that one of the issues to be discussed include the fate of the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

Not a few members of the Party stakeholders insist that since he comes from the North, and Atiku also comes from the North, Ayu should make way for a National Chairman of Southern extraction.