Wike, Makinde, Others Miss Out As PDP Gets Set To Inaugurate Presidential Campaign Council

After several failed efforts to achieve truce with the Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike-led group, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, have announced plan to inaugurate members of the National Campaign Management Committee (NCMC) and Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) today (Wednesday).

In Wike’s camp are Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde, Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom and Abia state Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The PDP, had two weeks ago, appointed Sokoto state Governor and Chairman PDP  Governors Forum, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as Director General of its NCMC and Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel as Chairman PCC to lead the 520-member presidential campaign team.

It also appointed former governor of Cross Rivers State, Liyel Imoke as deputy director general (Operations), former PDP National Secretary  Professor Adewale Oladipo as deputy director general (Administration), media mogul Chief Raymond Dokpesi as deputy director general (Technical and Systems, while former party’s national chairman, Ekwesilieze Nwodo was appointed deputy director general (Research and Strategy) of the NCMC.

Other appointed leaders of the campaign are Bauchi state Governor Bala Mohammed (Vice Chairman North) and Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde (Vice Chairman South of the PCC).

Last week, after an early hour meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, the Wike-led group pulled out of the Atiku campaign council.

They vowed not to play any role in Atiku’s campaign ahead of the 2023 general elections, until the PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, resigns from office for a southerner to take over.

Those who attended the meeting aside from Wike, Makinde include but  not limited to former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose, former governor of Plateau state, Jonah David Jang, former governor of Cross River state, Donald Duke, former PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Olabode George and former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Professor Gerry Gana among others.

In a revealing media chat last Friday, Wike had insisted that the only way Atiku would get their support is to ease out Ayu.

He also alleged that Ayu had taken a billion naira to influence voting during the presidential convention.