By our reporter| The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar have been rattled by Tuesday’s meeting in Paris between the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, PDP sources have confirmed.
According to sources, Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, and other PDP stalwarts loyal to Wike also attended the meeting, while
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, were part of the team that attended with Tinubu.
Wike and his team, reportedly travelled out of Nigeria early Monday morning.
“This explains why both Governor Nyesom Wike, who is a leading member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu were both absent at the opening of the ongoing NBA conference in Lagos,” the sources told an online publication on Tuesday.
The report further stated that Wike and his supporters horse-traded in the meeting to make a decision whether to back the APC candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
They are also reportedly scheduled to meet with Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
“This meeting is a confirmation that the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, even before the 2022 presidential primaries of the PDP, has been working underground for the APC candidate, Bola Tinubu,” the sources said.
“This move is a clear indication that the Governor Wike-led group has been deceiving the leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in fruitless reconciliation meetings, but has already decided to play the ‘spoiler game’ by destroying the party from within, frustrate the chances of the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar or when the push comes to shove, move en mass to the APC or Labour Party when the PDP least expected.
“It is important to note here that, part of Governor Wike’s plan ahead of the 2023 general elections, is to use the former governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko, and other surrogates in Katsina, Kebbi, Cross River, Kano, and other states to destabilise the campaigns of the PDP, especially the chances of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”
A source who attended the meeting described the outcome of the meeting as fruitful.
“It was a fruitful outing from our end. Further meetings would be held,” the source said, saying he should not be quoted.
A former minister in Wike’s camp, who also confirmed the meeting, told a national publication there was nothing wrong with the parley, saying Atiku is also meeting with APC governors.
“Atiku is also meeting with some APC governors, why are they complaining? What is good for the goose is good for the gander. It is all part of the game and nothing more,” he said.
He further stated that two things are being ironed out, whether Wike should dump PDP and join the APC or remain in PDP but work for the APC at the presidential election.
Wike, who came second during the presidential primaries of the PDP has been at loggerheads with Atiku following the selection of the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the vice presidential candidate of the party.
Spirited efforts by the leaders of the party to persuade Wike to key into Atiku’s project have hit the rock.
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