The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 poll, Atiku Abubakar and the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike have shunned the party leaders who are meeting to review the 2023 polls on Tuesday. in Abuja.
The PDP has been enmeshed in crisis as five of its governors, led by Wike, refused to work for Atiku’s emergence as president prior to the 2023 general elections.
They also insisted that the then party’s National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu must resign. Ayu was later kicked out at the heat of the crisis, but the party is at the election petition tribunal, challenging the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
No words from both Atiku and Wike as to why they were not participating in the meeting.
The acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum revealed that the meeting was to resolve issues in the party.
Similarly, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature spoke in similar tone, saying the PDP leaders want to douse the pressure and tension within the party due to what transpired during the 2023 elections.
According to Bature, the party believed its presidential candidate, Atiku won the election, “But we are in court and without prejudice to what the court will decide, we will keep it aside.”
He added, “We believe strongly that the ongoing tribunal cases in Kaduna, Nasarawa, Ogun and Sokoto states will be in our favour.”
He said, “The aim is when we are through, we will have an idea of what to do with the party before we move to other organs like the National Caucus, NEC for the way forward for the party. I believe there is hope for the party because our membership is still very strong.”
