Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has allegedly resolved to support the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ahead of the 2023 general election.
9News Nigeria cited anonymous sources saying that Governor Wike chose Tinubu after withdrawing his support for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
In line with the sources, Governor Wike resolved to support Tinubu, believing his chances were brighter than that of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi.
The sources added that Wike would remain a member of the PDP but would mobilize support for Tinubu in Rivers.
Speaking on the development, a close associate of Governor Samuel Ortom said the possibility of Wike working with Tinubu should not be ruled out.
9News Nigeria Correspondent quoted the unnamed Otom’s associate as saying: “Governor Wike is passionate about the presidency moving to the South in 2023. If you have ever been in a meeting where he made this argument, you will understand this. It is difficult to convince him that there is an alternative to a southern presidency.”
He supported the North in 2019 by openly backing the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal. He expected the favor to be returned to the South this time but that did not happen”.
“It is a shame that Ayu, who should have quietly resigned to assuage the fears of these leaders, is sitting tight. Maybe Wike has chosen to demonstrate to everyone that he means business. If Ayu is staying on and Atiku is not ready to do anything about it, I think Wike will support Tinubu. One thing is certain, he will not leave the PDP.”
Meanwhile, a report claimed that PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, cannot be regarded as a unifier as the umbrella party has presented him to be.
Since the emergence of Atiku as the presidential candidate of the PDP, the party has been divided more than before, and the former vice president has failed to step up the move to arrest the crisis, rocking the leading opposition party in Nigeria.
the PDP presidential flagbearer seemed to be blind to the reality of striking the balance between the north and the south in the party’s structures and system in the Nigerian understanding while appearing to be taking sides.
A legal practitioner, Wale Adeagbo, reacted to the issue and said Atiku should have solved the problem in the PDP if he is a unifier
