PDP Crisis Continues As Tinubu Meets Wike In UK

There are definite indications that Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, is trying harder to secure Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s support for the 2023 election, BRANDNEWSDAY learnt.

In contrary to certain internet claims that said the pair met in France on Tuesday, multiple sources verified to BRANDNEWSDAY on Tuesday that Tinubu and Wike met in London, United Kingdom, on Monday as part of efforts to work together before the election.

According to reports, a few governors from the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party attended the crucial conference.

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The ruling party attempted to take advantage of the PDP disarray produced by Wike’s disappointment with Atiku Abubakar’s victory in the party’s presidential primaries before to the meeting on Monday.

On July 8, Wike received visits from three APC governors at his Rumueprikon rural home in Port Harcourt: Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.

Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti and current PDP member, was also present during the meeting.

The PDP established a committee for reconciliation in order to resolve the dispute between Atiku and Wike. The disagreement began when Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa was selected as Atiku’s running mate.

After several delays, the panel finally met Wike in Port Harcourt on Friday, but no progress was made because the Rivers State governor insisted that Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP’s national chairman, be fired for his part in the former vice president’s election 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.’’