A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by aggrieved Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, has pulled out of the party’s presidential campaign council.
Wike has been at loggerhead with PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar after he lost to him at the presidential primaries.
Efforts to broker peace between the two men have repeatedly failed after Wike’s demands to Atiku were not met.
Chronicle NG reports that after a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital on Wednesday morning, members of Wike’s faction said they will not partake in Atiku’s campaign activities unless the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, resigns.
Chronicle NG reported that Governor Seyi Makinde who is a member of Wike’s faction was appointed as the Vice Chairman (South) in the presidential council.
The Rivers governor did not get any significant appointment on the campaign council as he was named as a member.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto who stepped down for Abubakar was named the Director General of the Atiku campaign council while Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom who also contested the presidential primary was named chairman.
Tambuwal will be assisted by four deputies. They are Senator Liyel Imoke (Operations), Prof. Adewale Oladipo (Admin), Raymond Dokpesi (Technical and Systems) and Okwesileze Nwodo (Research and Strategy).
Chronicle NG reports that Wike has held meetings with Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Peter Obi of the Labour Party over possible defection to those parties although members of his group has denied that he plans to defect.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state speaking during an interview on Arise News claimed his Rivers state counterpart had no plans to leave the party.
