Wike’s Camp Backs from PDP’s Presidential Campaign

The camp of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has officially announced its withdrawal from participating in the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections.

The group announced its position following a lengthy meeting at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, at around 7 p.m. yesterday and ended well after 2 a.m. this morning.

None of the group’s members, they claimed, will take part in the campaign council in any form unless Iyorchia Ayu, the party’s national chairman, steps down in favour of a southern candidate.

Recently, some group members were chosen to serve as campaign council members and leaders for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

George delivers the shocker during the press briefing after more than seven hours of private meetings that lasted from 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, until past 2 a.m. on Wednesday, September 21.

The decision of the Rivers governor’s team comes a few days before September 28, the official day set by the Independent National Electoral Commission for candidates to officially begin their campaigns.

Those at the gathering include Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; former Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Donald Duke of Cross River, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe and Jonah Jang of Plateau, former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.

Others at the meeting are elder statesmen Olabode George, Jerry Gana; South-South Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche; Senator Suleiman Nazif, Nnenna Ukeje, among several others.