Wike Meets Some PDP Governors
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has held a crucial meeting with some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who coordinated his presidential campaign.
The meeting was held on Sunday behind closed doors at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. Although the agenda of the meeting was unclear, this is the latest meeting since the Governor lost in the primary election.
Those at the meeting were Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Others are former governors Donald Duke of Cross River State, Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, Ibrahim Idris of Kogi State, and Jonah Jang of Plateau State.
Recall that the PDD had, in May, conducted its primary election, with former vice President Atiku Abubakar polling 371 votes to emerge as the PDP’s flagbearer ahead of Wike, who scored 237 votes.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki (70); Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel (38), Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed (38), Former Senate President Pius Anyim (14), Mrs Tari Diana Oliver (One), and Mr Sam Ohuabunwa (1) shared the remainder of the valid votes.
The presidential candidate had also picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate, which sparked concerns as the committee set up to determine the running mate had voted for Wike, who was the runner-up in the primary. Atiku, however, between the three names, chose Okowa, whom he described as the most suitable.
The Rivers state governor had at the weekend said, in due time, he will speak on the happenings in the party.
The PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) established a reconciliatory committee to meet with Wike of Rivers State over the fallout from the party’s presidential primary and crises surrounding the choice of a running mate to allay the governor’s perceived grievances.