Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu of manipulating the party’s presidential primary election that produced Atiku Abubakar.
He said this on Friday in a planned media parley which was aimed at telling his side of the story which he maintained was the truth, and also to expose the ill characters of some persons who pride themselves as national leaders.
Wike alleged that the PDP chairman had reached out to other presidential aspirants asking them to step down for Atiku.
What Wike is saying
Wike alleged that Ayu manipulated delegates to ensure he did not emerge as the winner of the presidential primary.
Wike said, “He (Ayu) was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku. I was there, Saraki and others were there.
“He manipulated the delegates. There was nothing Ayu did not do to ensure Wike didn’t emerge.”
“Meetings upon meetings were going. Pressures were being mounted on people to step down.
“Even on the night of the convention meetings were going on. That is why we started our convention late.
“Some of the retired generals were involved. Some of the meetings were held in their houses. There is nothing they didn’t do for me to step down.
“Those who know me, know that I would have stopped the convention, even if heaven falls,” Wike added.
What you should know
- Governor Wike lost the PDP’s presidential ticket after scoring 237 votes to come behind former Vice President Atiku who polled 371 votes to win the party’s primary conducted in May.
- Weeks after the presidential primary was held, Atiku named Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate despite reportedly earlier promising the ticket to Wike.
- While Governor Wike said he had accepted the outcome of the primary in good faith, he insisted that Senator Iyorchia Ayu must resign as the party’s national chairman for the sake of equity since a northern presidential candidate has emerged.
- His actions, however, are said to have been perceived by some as anti-party activities amid speculations that the PDP leadership might be planning to sanction him.
