Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president, on Wednesday, met with former presidential hopefuls of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Some high-profile members of the PDP, who also contested the party’s presidential primary election, didn’t attend the the meeting which was held at Abubakar’s residence in Asokoro, federal capital territory (FCT).
Those who attended the meeting included Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine; Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former managing director of the now-defunct FSB International Bank; Tariela Oliver, the only female aspirant; and Charles Ugwu.
Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, and Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti, were among those conspicuously absent from the meeting.
Abubakar won the party’s presidential primary held in May — he polled 371 votes to defeat Wike, his closest challenger, who secured 237 votes.
Bukola Saraki, former senate president; Emmanuel Udom, Akwa Ibom governor; and Bala Mohammed, Bauchi governor, were also among those who contested the party’s ticket.
The meeting comes amid the crisis rocking the leading opposition party after Abubakar picked Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, as his running mate for the 2023 elections — overlooking Wike, who was reportedly recommended by a panel comprising national working committee (NWC) members and governors.