Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, stated on Thursday that Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, and his colleagues in other states are working toward the party’s success in the general elections in 2023.
A few hours after the governor met with Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party, Olusegun Obasanjo, and a few other prominent politicians in London, the former vice president made his statement.
In the British capital on Wednesday, Wike also spoke with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC’s presidential hopeful.
The meeting between the governor and Atiku’s main rivals in next year’s election has sent jitters down the spines of the PDP leaders who are battling frantically to resolve the crisis rocking the major opposition party since the conclusion of its presidential primary in May.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his media aide, Paul Ibe, the PDP candidate also cautioned his supporters, particularly party stalwarts to desist from making statements that could affect the ongoing reconciliatory process in the party.
The statement read: “It has become imperative to appeal to all party members, leaders and everyone related to, connected with or associated with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar to desist from making comments that potentially reduce the optics of PDP’s image as a united political party.
“Today, Nigerians look up to the Peoples Democratic Party to lead the charge in ousting the ruling party. This expectation from the people is the reason why the APC is jittery of their impending fall in next year’s general election. It is also the very reason why the ruling party is manipulating the political process to create a sense of division in the PDP.
“Because they know that there is nothing to campaign with from their records of performance in office, the APC has elected to play the role of the devil’s advocate, regaling in celebration of their imaginary invincibility upon a fraudulent claim that the PDP is divided.
“It is for this reason that appeals to every true member of the PDP and anyone who truly wishes the success of the PDP presidential candidate to not fall for the antics of the APC in making statements that could give credence to the false claim of divisions in the PDP.
“All the leaders of the party, including especially the governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Nyesom Wike and all governors of the PDP are united in working for the victory of the PDP in next year’s general election across board.”
