The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate for 2023, Atiku Abubakar, has lost the support of several high-ranking PDP members.
This development comes after numerous attempts to mend the ongoing rift between Atiku and Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers state, failed. Recall that the two party leaders have been at odds over a supposed violation of the North and South’s zoning agreements.
Wike and his supporters are still adamant that Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman, must go. The Rivers politician insists that the party’s presidential candidate and its chairman cannot be from the same region.
However, on Wednesday morning, Wike and his faction pulled out from Atiku’s campaign stating that they will not be part of any activities until Ayu was removed. They insisted that the position must come to the South for balance, justice, and equity in the party, hence they will not play any role in Atiku Abubakar’s campaign council. They also resolve that an acting Chairman from the South should lead the party on the national campaign, going into the elections. They made their position known in a resolution read by former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Bode George, after a long meeting held at Governor Wike’s private residence, near Port Harcourt on Wednesday. Below are the names of the Governors and ranking chieftains that pulled out of the campaign with Wike;
