As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) kicked off its presidential campaign in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Monday, five state governors and other key officials of the party boycotted the event.
The party’s official flag-off ceremony which is coming barely four months before the February 25 presidential election took place at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
The five state governors were Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ifeanyi Ugwunayi of Enugu State.
Related news
- PDP Kicks off Presidential Election campaign in Uyo
- PDP Crisis deepens as Ayu dares Wike and allies over resignation
- Alleged certificate forgery: Court adjourns Akwa Ibom PDP gov candidate case
Straightnews gathered that Deputy National Chairman South, National Vice Chairman South West, National Vice Chairman South South equally boycotted Atiku’s campaign launch In Uyo.
Recently, the governors pulled out of the party’s presidential campaign team after the party failed to meet their demand for the resignation of the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
Indications are rife that the grievances of Wike Group had deepened following the decision of Atiku Abubakar, PDP Presidential candidate to continue playing to the gallery instead of genuinely resolving the dispute.
Both Atiku and Wike’s supporters have been locked in a face-off since June when the former Vice President overlooked Wike and picked Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
Previous efforts to reconcile them had failed to yield any positive result.
Atiku had promised to support the presidential bid of Governor Wike in 2027 if the governor sheathed his sword and supported him (Atiku) in the 2023 general elections.
He made the promise in an obviously desperate bid when he met with Wike in Abuja in an attempt to patch up their differences.
Before then, Atiku had jetted to parley with Wike Group in London, though the effort did not pay off.
Last week, the new Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara leading other members of the board had paid a reconciliation visit to Governor Wike in Port Harcourt to reach a truce and paper cracks in the party, but it seems the effort is not yielding the desired fruit.
