Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has reportedly listed conditions for peace to reign in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the party’s Board of Trustees BoT meeting to resolve lingering issue between him and PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Top on the agenda of the BOT meeting scheduled for Wednesday is to settle the difference between Atiku and Wike that was brought about by the former Vice-President’s failure to make Wike his running mate, according to the BOT Chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, in a statement he released, which read in part, “The BoT is meeting on Wednesday, August 3, to address properly the issue by coming up with a strong committee to reconcile all aggrieved members, including Governor Wike.
“After the BoT meeting, we will meet with Atiku, Okowa and Wike to finally resolve the matter to make PDP stronger and very united and enable Atiku and Okowa win the election hands down.”
Wike had on Sunday met with PDP governors and other stakeholders who coordinated his campaign for the presidential ticket.
During the meeting, it was gathered that the Wike PDP camp demanded the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, as part of the conditions to work for Atiku.
Sources familiar with the meeting said the Rivers governor’s men were also demanding a written agreement from the presidential candidate on what would be accruing to them should the party win the 2023 elections.
Members of the camp had complained that the PDP had been hijacked by the North, saying the region produced its chairman, presidential candidate and BoT chairman.
A source said, “What they are saying is that Ayu has been compromised, he refused to be impartial, he worked solely for the emergence of Atiku Abubakar. That is why some people are saying he should step down for equity.
“The problem is that they are not sure that if Atiku wins, Ayu will agree to step down. So the Wike camp is said to be asking for a written agreement that Ayu will go and what they stand to benefit if the party wins the presidential election.”
