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People Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar may set up his campaign organisation without resolving the protracted feud between him and the camp of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, it was learnt yesterday.
Before the election, which begins on September 28, the former vice president is enticing the governor’s most important backers to join his team.
The Rivers governor warned that his opponents in the party were after his life yesterday.
According to a source, Atiku is frantically trying to persuade senatorial contender and governor of Benue State Sam Ortom to support him instead of Wike.
Party leaders, who are angry over the issue, are pleading with the battling gladiators to put down their swords for the good of the group.
A total of 17 PDP governorship hopefuls paid Wike a visit yesterday in his hometown of Rumueprikon, Port-Harcourt, the seat of Rivers State, to implore him to embrace peace.
Ortom might support Atiku because he is running for president in 2016, according to sources.
There were also rumours that the PDP Presidential Campaign Council director-general position may go to Aminu Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the governor of Enugu State, or Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the former governor of Osun State.
Oyinlola, however, asserted that he was unaware of any proposal made by Atiku or the party hierarchy.
When the campaign gets underway on September 28, a source verified Ortom’s willingness to serve with the Atiku campaign apparatus.
The source, a PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) member, claimed Ortom’s choice to support Atiku was driven by need.
“Governor Ortom reiterated to me in our most recent conversation that he will work for Atiku because he still views the PDP presidential candidate as his leader,” he stated.
Additionally, the governor is running for the Senate and feels that it would be ineffective to do anything else because both the National Assembly and the presidential elections would take place on the same day.
Ugwuanyi is reportedly the party’s choice for director general of the PDP presidential campaign.
Ugwuanyi and Ortom are devoted supporters of Wike, who has been at odds with Atiku and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP National Chairman.
The Rivers governor has persisted in making Ayu’s resignation a requirement for party harmony.
It was learned that those endorsing the governor of Enugu have based their case on the necessity of include the Wike campaign in the electoral framework.
Additionally, it was learned that stakeholders believe his selection as DG would provide the Southeast with a fair bargain overall.
However, it’s said that his marketers expressed concern that Ugwuanyi may reject the offer if the Atiku campaign was unable to settle its problems with Wike.
According to sources, Tambuwal was also being recommended for the position due to his prominence during the most recent nationwide campaign for the PDP presidential ticket.
Following appeals from influential northern elders, Tambuwal, who had entered the campaign for the ticket, stood aside in favour of Atiku during the primary.
He had instructed the representatives of Sokoto and other states to vote for Atiku.
The governor of Sokoto is also claimed to have made the list as a result of his leadership of the PDP Governors Forum. According to The Nation.
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