On Friday the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, he (Atiku) can do without him in the forthcoming general elections.
There has been a crisis in the main opposition party following the outcome of the party’s presidential primary.
Atiku emerged as the presidential candidate of the PDP for the 2023 general election, having secured a total of 371 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Wike, who garnered 237 votes.
From the details of the results from the exercise: Atiku Abubakar – 371; Nyesom Wike- 237; Bukola Saraki – 70; Udom Emmanuel – 38; Balla Mohammed – 20;
Pius Anyim – 14; Sam Ohabunwa – 1; and Olivia Tariela scored 1. There were 12 void votes.
Wike and his camp, comprising some Southern governors, feel they were cheated out of the presidential ticket and recently pulled out of Atiku’s presidential campaign.
And following their resolve to dump the campaign team, some people in the party believe that Wike may even leave the party if he so wishes, insisting that Atiku can win without the Rivers Governor.
And speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday, Wike said, “Yes, I agree. Atiku can do without me. They can do without me in the other states but not Rivers State.”
