Politics
Exclusive: Real reasons Why Gov. Wike lost at the PDP primaries, and fell out with Party and Atiku
How Rivers State delegates voted for Atiku during the primaries
Why Atiku is silent over Wike’s continued outburst
By Yemie ADEOYE
BARRING any last-minute moves as campaigns officially commence for the 2023 elections in Nigeria, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is bound to go into the general elections a divided party, with different factions, thereby making it easier for the ruling All Progressives Congress, and the fast-rising Labour Party at the polls.
Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike
This is due to fresh facts emerging on why River state Governor, Nyesom Wike lost at the presidential primaries of the party in May to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and has since gone on a rampage against the party leadership, especially the national chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
The Governor who arguably governs the richest state in Nigeria’s oil-rich south-south region has since launched a campaign for the removal of the national chairman of the party, who incidentally is from the northern part of the country, just like the party’s flag bearer, Mr Atiku Abubakar.
Wike’s insistence is drawn from the fact that the Party’s Presidential candidate is from the Northeast zone, while the Director General of the Party’s Presidential campaign council, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state is from the Northwest, hence, for the purpose of fairness and inclusiveness the next most important office which is the national chairman should honourably go to the south. It is either this, or the party should be prepared to fail at the polls, as he threatened severally that Rivers state votes is not for charity, and that the support will only come if there is fairness, equity and oneness in the party.
Mr Wike has the seemingly staunch support of the Governors of Oyo, Benue, and Abia states, as well as former governor Donald Duke of Cross River state, and former deputy national chairman south of the party, Chief Olabode George.
However, Biztellers investigations have revealed that the major reason behind Mr Wike’s problems is not just his seemingly rambunctious attitude, but centres around his inability to honour a gentleman’s agreement between him and an array of political leaders in River’s state, especially those of the PDP extraction.
Some of these leaders are powerful in their rights and have their political interests around the state, and at the national level.
A highly placed source within the Governor’s circle informed this writer that the former Minister of Transport Dr Abiye Sekibo, and other leaders like Chief OCJ Okocha, and some other leaders have at different times approached Governor Wike to confirm if he had any candidate for the governorship primaries in Rivers state, and the Governor assured them that he had no candidate, as his interest is solely on his Presidential ambition. However, these leaders, including the Amanayabo (king) of Okochiri kingdom in Rivers state, King Ateke Tom, all tried to appeal to the Governor to make his successorship intentions known, but the governor reassured all of them that he has no such intentions and encouraged them all to sponsor their candidates of themselves if they so desired.
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It was however a rude shock to all these leaders to discover at the very last minute that the governor is not only interested in his successorship, but he is sponsoring the state Accountant General, Mr. Fubara Siminilaye, who was among other government officials recently declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, over alleged N117 billion fraud linked to the State Government account. Fubara Siminilaye eventually won Rivers state Governorship primaries.
This move it was gathered, enraged some of these leaders, who not only control some of the party mechanisms in the state, but are also very close to the national leadership of the party, as well as the Presidential candidate of the party, Mr Atiku Abubakar, and they all immediately switched loyalty, directing their followers accordingly.
“This saw a direct blow to Governor Wike’s Presidential ambition, as over 15 of the delegates from Rivers state voted for Mr Atiku Abubakar, even as Governor Wike still won Rivers state votes during the primaries, but lost the total votes to the former Vice President.
After this blow, the Rivers state Governor also made behind the scene moves to emerge the Vice presidential candidate of the party, but these leaders from Rivers state, also joined others from within the party at the national level to frustrate any such moves, and that is part of the reason Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of Rivers state emerged as the Vice Presidential candidate of the party.”
The Presidential candidate of the party has seemingly moved on with the presidential campaign and ignored all the outbursts of Governor Nyesom Wike who had threatened that River state votes will not go to the PDP if the National Chairman of the party is not removed for a southerner, the reason behind the Mr Atiku’s silence and ignorance of the Governor’s outbursts is traced to the stoic and unflinching support of these leaders from Rivers state, who have assured the Presidential candidate of the party that Rivers state is a traditional PDP state, and no amount of threats, rantings or outburst of the governor will change the voting pattern of the state in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential elections.
Speaking further, our source stated, “The party has moved on, and the Governor better wakes up and smell the coffee, as no amount of blackmail or outburst will force the party to change all its plans in order to satisfy one man. This could be seen in the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign council; the Governor was an ordinary member with his name as number 13 on the list. If that is not enough sign that the party has moved on, then what else do you need to see? He queried.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced its decision to back Northern candidates in the 2027 general elections, citing the urgent need to address the worsening socio-economic and security challenges facing the region.
In a communique issued after its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the forum expressed deep concern over the economic state of Northern Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, attributing the region’s struggles to flawed governance and poor policy decisions.
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The ACF criticized the Federal Government’s economic policies, describing them as detrimental to the livelihoods of Northern citizens.
According to the communique, signed by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the policies have compounded the already dire economic conditions in the region.
The statement reads, “Arewa people remain at a great disadvantage, being already worse off economically compared to other parts of Nigeria. While economic reforms are indeed desirable, they should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve. Policies must have a human face.”
The forum noted that the North faces chronic food insecurity, limited educational and vocational opportunities for youth, and a heavy reliance on small-scale economic activities.
“Livelihoods are currently dependent on micro activities. The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity; its youths lack education and skills training. Daunting as these may be, they can be reversed. The time to think big is now,” the communique emphasized.
The ACF also addressed the pervasive insecurity in the North, warning that the situation has begun to erode public confidence in the government.
“Security is an irreducible minimum of human existence. In this regard, insecurity in its various manifestations remains the most worrisome challenge of Arewa people, that has even started to corrosively undermine the authority of government,” the forum stated.
It condemned the government’s response to the crisis, arguing that the Federal Government has failed to meet its primary duty of safeguarding lives and property.
“That those whose responsibility it is to provide security will be saying they are doing their best is unacceptable,” the communique said. “The minimum duty of government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure.”
The ACF faulted what it described as the “flawed leadership selection process” under the Tinubu administration, claiming it has elevated individuals without the requisite competence or experience to key positions.
It urged the Federal Government to “review, reassess, reevaluate, and re-order the direction of its economic policies with a view to giving it the needed human face.”
Looking ahead to the next general elections, the ACF pledged its support for Northern politicians who demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing the region’s challenges and fostering national development.
“Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring economic conditions, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse,” the communique stated.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has urged Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritize completing ongoing projects and avoid leaving any abandoned during his second term in office.
Ganduje made the call on Wednesday at the APC’s national secretariat in Abuja after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented Certificates of Return to Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Adelami Olaide.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s re-election was marked by a sweeping victory in all 18 local government areas of the state during last Saturday’s governorship election.
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Ganduje praised the outcome, describing it as a testament to the people’s confidence in the APC-led administration.
“I am happy about the landslide result. The election is not the effort of the elite and middle class alone; it is also through the effort of the grassroots,” Ganduje said. “Out of 203 wards, APC won 202, losing only one ward. This is a victory embraced by all.”
Ganduje highlighted the importance of continuity and urged the governor to leverage his experience from the previous administration led by the late Rotimi Akeredolu.
“As a deputy, you knew how projects were started by your late governor. You were part of it, also as a governor for 10 months, and now as a re-elected governor. For the next four years, you will continue,” he said.
“You know the terrains, geography, and physical landscape of all 18 local government areas. Use these insights to carve out projects that will improve the lives of the Ondo people.”
Meanwhile, Ondo APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, commended Ganduje’s leadership and strategic direction, which he credited for the party’s success in the election.
He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support for Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy, despite internal opposition from some party stakeholders.
“We have finally killed PDP in Ondo,” Adetimehin declared. “Most of the leaders of that party have defected to the APC. With the landslide victory in this election, it is clear to the whole world that there is no PDP in Ondo.”
He further described Ganduje as a mentor whose leadership had been instrumental in uniting the party and ensuring victory at the polls.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who succeeded Akeredolu and completed his tenure before securing re-election, has pledged to focus on delivering on his mandate and completing critical projects in his second term.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally issued certificates of return to Ondo State Governor-elect Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, following their victory in Saturday’s governorship election.
The presentation ceremony took place on Wednesday at INEC headquarters in Abuja, where the commission’s National Commissioner for Ondo State, Kunle Ajayi, handed over the certificates.
Biztellers reports that Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent governor, emerged victorious in the election, securing 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.
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The results were announced in Akure on Sunday by the Returning Officer, Professor Olayemi Akinyemi, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja.
Election observers described the polls as peaceful and credible, commending INEC for improved logistical arrangements.
The event was attended by top APC officials, including the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and other party members.
Ganduje hailed the outcome as a triumph for democracy in Nigeria.
“Since 1999, we have been enjoying democracy, and we always fine-tune it to ensure it is fair, free, and decent, so that it is the vote of the people that counts,” Ganduje said.
PDP Rejects Results
Despite widespread praise for the conduct of the election, the PDP has rejected the outcome, describing it as fraudulent. Its candidate, Ajayi, vowed to challenge the results in court.
Aiyedatiwa Pledges Better Leadership
Speaking after receiving his certificate of return, Aiyedatiwa expressed gratitude to the people of Ondo State for renewing his mandate.
“The mandate you have just renewed via your huge votes across 18 LGAs where we won convincingly has placed a burden on me to serve you better than I did before now,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa initially assumed office in December 2023 following the death of his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
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