Governor Nyesom Wike has rejected Atiku Abubakar’s offer to support his presidential ambition in 2027.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had promised to spend one term in office if he emerged the winner of the 2023 election.
He reportedly said this at a meeting with Wike on Friday night.
But one of Wike’s close allies, Senator Olaka Wogu, told Punch that the Rivers state governor is insisting that there would be no basis for negotiation until the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, resigns.
“The meeting ended because Wike stood firm that there was no basis for any resolution until Ayu stepped down,” Wogu said.
“Every other thing can be discussed, whether it is 2027 or not after the needful has been done. This will put the party in a position where the national chairman can go to every state to campaign for the party. There are some states where Ayu may not be welcomed.”
“As you know, Wike has stood his ground that Ayu must leave for a sense of fairness, equity and for what is right. He should go. This was even compounded by the fact that Ayu himself said he would go. So, as a matter of honour, he should go,” he added.