Information has emerged that some Governors of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, have allegedly reached a deal to work against the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
According to a report, instead of working for Atiku, the Governors reportedly reached a deal to secretly support the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu even while they sit tight in PDP.
The Governors in this deal are loyalists of their Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike who has been at loggerheads with Atiku over the outcome of the party’s presidential primary election and the subsequent emergence of Ifeanyi Okowa as the vice presidential candidate.
A source quoted by Vanguard says the Governors; Nyesom Wike (Rivers) Samuel Ortom (Benue) Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu(Abia) Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) all reached the agreement during their recent meeting in London.
According to the source, the Governors want assurances that their preferred candidates will be allowed to win Senate and House of Representatives seats in their respective states but Tinubu could not fully commit to the demands.
“Wike was said to have demanded that the APC candidate ensures if he wins the presidential election, which comes first, he will ensure he does not influence the outcome of the governorship and House of Assembly polls in Rivers, Benue, Oyo, and Abia states so that candidates in his camp and those of the other governors could maintain control of the states.
“He also wanted assurances that their men should be allowed to win Senate and House of Representatives seats, including the governors contesting senatorial elections. There was no headway on this demand either, since the presidential and National Assembly elections would take place the same day,” the source claimed.
PDP leaders have however not given up and are making frantic efforts to end the internal crisis rocking the party, which has stalled its preparations for the 2023 presidential campaign and the inauguration of its campaign committee.
Our correspondent reports that the main opposition party plunged into crisis in the aftermath of the nomination of its presidential candidate and running mate, Atiku Abubakar, and Ifeanyi Okowa, respectively.
According to report, the party has scheduled crucial meetings of its National Working Committee (NWC), National Caucus, Board of Trustees ( BoT), and National Executive Committee (NEC).
Insiders disclosed that the meetings are part of efforts by the PDP to rally its leaders and stakeholders to find a middle ground in the crisis rocking the opposition party.
