Some PDP chieftains loyal to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike on Wednesday announced their withdrawal from the party’s presidential campaign council.
The group disclosed this in Port Harcourt in a press conference led by former PDP deputy national chairman (South) Chief Bode George.
The group said they can only remain on the PCC if the party’s national chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu resigns.
The decision was reached after a meeting early on Wednesday morning in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Mr George said, “The published presidential campaign council list translates to putting the cart before horse, the pertinent issue remains the Ayu leadership. We therefore resolve that senator Iyorchia Ayu resigns as the national chairman for an acting chairman of southern Nigeria extraction. We resolved not to participate in the campaign council in whatever capacity until the resignation of Dr Iyorchia Ayu.”
The Port Harcourt meeting was attended by former Governors Olusegun Mimiko, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Jonah Jang, Ayo Fayose and Donald Duke.
Also attended are former Justice Minister Mohammed Adoke; Prof Jerry Gana, former Information Minister; South-South Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih; and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche.
Mr Wike came second in the presidential primaries that produced Mr Atiku Abubabar as the opposition party’s flag bearer in Abuja on May 28 and May 29, 2022.
The duo parted ways when Mr Atiku picked Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate, instead of Mr Wike who was reportedly recommended by some members of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).
