PDP Crisis Deepens As Tinubu Meets Wike In UK

By Oladosu Oluwagbenga

There are clear signs that Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress, is working harder to win the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s support for the 2023 election. 

Multiple sources confirmed to THEEAGLE on Tuesday that Tinubu and Wike met in London, United Kingdom, on Monday as part of efforts to cooperate before the election, in contrast to certain online reports allegations claiming the pair met in France on Tuesday.

Some governors from the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, according to reports, were present at the key meeting.

Prior to the meeting on Monday, the ruling party tried to capitalize on the PDP turmoil caused by Wike’s dissatisfaction with Atiku Abubakar’s victory in the party’s presidential primaries.

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In an effort to court Wike, three APC governors—Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State—visited him on July 8 at his Rumueprikon rural residence in Port Harcourt.

Former Ekiti governor and PDP member Ayodele Fayose was also present during the meeting.

To end the conflict between Atiku and Wike, the PDP formed a council for reconciliation. Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta State, was chosen to be Atiku’s running mate, which sparked the conflict.

After several delays, the panel finally met Wike in Port Harcourt on Friday, but there was no progress made because the governor of Rivers State insisted that Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP’s national chairman, be dismissed for his role in the former vice president’s ascension to the position of standard-bearer for the party.

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Wike’s representatives claimed that Ayu could not be a neutral chairman because he supported a particular side during the special convention, according to sources at the conference.

It was believed that Tinubu had an opportunity to court Wike because Atiku’s peace efforts had been undermined by the reconciliation panel’s failure to appease the governor.

A source in Tinubu’s camp confirmed that Wike and the APC presidential candidate had a meeting, and that it had taken place in London.

According to him, “Governors Sanwo-Olu and Fayemi were equally part of the delegation. Contrary to what some online media are speculating, the meeting was held in London yesterday (Monday).’’

Asked if an agreement was struck, the source said he could not confirm because the full details had not been disclosed to him.

The source added, “Don’t forget that Sanwo-Olu and Fayemi earlier went with Fayose and Akeredolu to see Wike in Port Harcourt on behalf of our principal. Definitely, something is going on between them. However, I may not be in a position to tell whether there was a sort of MoU or agreement between them.’’