Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has told Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that he can do without him in the upcoming general elections.
Following the outcome of the party’s presidential primary, the main opposition party has experienced a crisis.
Atiku emerged as the PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, receiving 371 votes to defeat his closest rival, Wike, who received 237 votes.
Atiku Abubakar received 371, Nyesom Wike received 237, Bukola Saraki received 70, Udom Emmanuel received 38, Balla Mohammed received 20, Pius Anyim received 14, Sam Ohabunwa received 1, and Olivia Tariela received 1. There were 12 void votes.
Wike and his supporters, which include some Southern governors, believe they were cheated out of the presidential ticket and have recently withdrawn from Atiku’s presidential campaign.
Following their decision to fire the campaign team, some party members believe that Wike may even leave the party if he so desires, arguing that Atiku can win without the Rivers Governor.
“Yes, I agree,” Wike said to journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday. “Atiku can do without me. They can do without me in other states, but not in Rivers.”
