Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike-led group, contrary to speculation is pondering remaining in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and work for the All Progressives Congress, APC flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Vanguard reports.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that the two sides met a fortnight ago in the United Kingdom (UK), leading to speculations on the next move of the PDP governors comprising Seyi Makinde of Oyo , Samuel Ortom of Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu Abia state.
Wike had, upon return from London after the interface, said his meeting with Tinubu was in Nigeria’s interest.
According to Vanguard, sources said the follow-up meeting between the Wike group and Tinubu, scheduled to hold in the UK later this week, is to consolidate on the working agreement reached two weeks ago.
However, reports emerged stating that Wike and Tinubu sides couldn’t arrive at a working agreement at the forum.
Demands
Tinubu was alleged to have declined to commit to all of Wike’s conditions before working together in the poll.
Quoting sources, the report said: “Wike was said to have demanded that the APC candidate ensures if he wins the presidential election, which comes first, he will ensure he does not influence the outcome of the governorship and House of Assembly polls in Rivers, Benue, Oyo and Abia states, so that candidates in his camp and those of the other governors could maintain control of the states.
“He also wanted assurances that their men should be allowed to win Senate and House of Representatives seats, including the governors contesting senatorial elections. There was no headway on this demand either, since the presidential and National Assembly elections would take place the same day.”
While none of the parties has denied the report at press time, fresh facts available to Sunday Vanguard indicated that both sides actually agreed on a work plan for the election.
Vanguard reported that multiple sources familiar with the talks at the London meeting said they ruled out any defection of Wike and his allies to
They were said to have agreed that Wike and his group would remain in the PDP where they would work for Tinubu by ensuring he wins the presidential election in their states.
Speaking further on the agreement between Tinubu and Wike, one of our sources said: “ The agreement between Wike and Tinubu is real. Wike is not defecting to APC because Rivers APC wouldn’t even welcome him. At the meeting where he tabled his conditions to support Asiwaju, it was agreed that he will work for oga. And he has commenced. You could see it from his actions and utterances. Whether he reconciles with Atiku or not, Wike is working for Tinubu.
Their latest trip is to formalise the terms of the working arrangement. Rivers votes are very important to Tinubu and the APC is exploiting the vacuum created by PDP crisis.”
Rivers APC
Another source said: ”They are working for the APC, it is confirmed. Wike and Ortom flew to London to meet with Seyi Makinde to formalise their working agreement with Tinubu.
“They are meeting Tinubu again next week. You know they met two weeks ago in London, they are meeting with him again this week. They will not move to APC but they will stay in the PDP and work for the APC.”
But a source close to the Wike camp told Sunday Vanguard that the Rivers governor and his allies are undecided on whether to support Tinubu or Obi.
The source, a former member of the National Working Committee, NWC, confirmed that Wike and his group will remain in the PDP and work against it in 2023 if their demands are not met.
“I have said it continuously that Wike and his team will remain in the PDP and work against the party if their demands are not met.
“But if they see that the chances of either Peter Obi or Bola Tinubu are bright, they,Wike and his group, may defect and work for them. They will work for either of them but it will most likely be Obi.”
On their proposed meeting with Tinubu again in London, the source said: They are just testing the waters. ‘’
PDP governors
The source also revealed that some PDP governors worked against the former Vice President, who was also the party’s candidate in 2019.
He said: ”In 2019, they did not work for Atiku. Among all of them, the only person who worked for Atiku was Ortom. Seyi Makinde, Ugwuanyi and Ikpeazu did not work for Atiku. What happened then was that Igbo governors had an agreement to work for Buhari. Rivers gave Buhari 24 percent during the election.
“That was what they did in 2019. And that is what they are going to do again in 2023. What they are doing is not new but it is not going to affect the party in any significant way. The difference between then and now is clear.”
This newspaper had reported yesterday that Wike, Ortom , Makinde and Ikpeazu had met in London last Friday to finalise their pact with Tinubu.
The aggrieved PDP governors were said to have concluded plans for another meeting with the APC presidential candidate.
Recall that a few days after the first London meeting with Tinubu, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, a close associate of Tinubu and placeholder before Senator Kashim Shettima was chosen as ruining mate to APC candidate, said Wike had agreed to work with Tinubu.
His words: “The meeting was basically on the 2023 presidential election and by God’s grace, we are going to work with Governor Nyesom Wike. He will assist and we are going to win the election with ease, by the will of God.”