PDP Crisis: Atiku Drafts Mark, Ibori, Odili To Assuage Wike

* Party Denies Suspending Campaign Over Gov

THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has drafted a former president of the senate, David Mark, former governors James Ibori (Delta) and Peter Odili (Rivers) to assuage aggrieved Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, and his allies.

  This is just as the party reportedly suspended its scheduled rallies in three states, three days after it flagged off its presidential campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, which was boycotted by Wike and his allies, who insist on the resignation of the National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, for the sake of fairness and equity in the opposition party.

  Wike’s allies, including governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), shunned the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, following Ayu’s refusal to quit, and it was speculated that the festering rift between Atiku and the Wike camp was responsible for putting on hold, planned campaign activities, as the party tries to unite its members towards victory in next year’s general elections.

  The suspension of the Kebbi rally, which was earlier scheduled for Wednesday, October 12, as well as those billed for Thursday, October 13 in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, and for Kaduna, Kaduna State, was to enable the three new major stakeholders chance to consult with the Wike camp.

  A PDP presidential campaign spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, who confirmed the cancellation of the rally in the three northwest states, stated that the rally scheduled to hold in Kaduna had been shifted to Monday, but was silent on definite dates for the Kebbi and Zamfara rallies.

  The aggrieved camp, which had also stayed away from the inauguration PDP-Presidential campaign Council held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja on September 28, is insisting that Ayu must step aside to allow a southerner take charge as chairman, arguing that the presidential candidate and the party chair cannot come from the same region.

  Besides, they said Ayu promised to step aside if a northerner emerged as the PDP presidential candidate and therefore should honour his words, even as Atiku had consistently stated that he lacks the power to remove Ayu from office.

BUT the party has denied suspending its rallies over Wike. Its Director of Strategic Communications, Dele Momodu, dismissed the report, insisting that the party’s campaign was on course.

  “Absolute falsehood…unlike the APC, which is yet to put its act together, our Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council has taken off at supersonic speed. See you soon in Kaduna by God’s grace,” Momodu said.