Contrary to the decision of pro-Wike governors not to identify with the presidential campaign of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, many stalwarts in their states are mobilizing for their presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The party faithful, whose positions are not going down well with their governors, have started setting up pro-Atiku structures to be used in campaigning for the former number two-man and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Their decision, was informed by factors which mainly include post and pre-primaries intra-party crises and fear of losing House of Assembly, Senate and House of Representatives elections in 2023.
Structure
In Rivers, Benue, Abia, Oyo and Enugu findings show that Governors Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom, Seyi Makinde, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi respectively are making real their threat of not identifying with Atiku’s campaign as they haven’t put any structure on the ground to that effect.
However, several party chieftains are already working for Atiku and Okowa despite the opposition of the state governors.
Some of the chieftains, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, said they were already putting together Presidential Election Campaign Councils in their respective states regardless of the position of their governors who have vowed not to campaign for Atiku.
The governors, led by Wike, had said until the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, steps down, they won’t support Atiku for President.
They had together and individually, at several fora, said Ayu must resign for a southerner to emerge as Chairman.
The five governors carried out their threat with the boycott of the inauguration of PDP Presidential Campaign in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The Wike group members earlier stayed away from the inauguration of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council last month.
Wike, who was a presidential aspirant of the party but became aggrieved after losing the ticket to Atiku and the VP slot to Okowa, is leading a group of party loyalists demanding Ayu’s exit to achieve a “regional balance” since Ayu and Atiku are both from the North.
But the National Chairman has insisted he would not resign, saying he was elected for a four year-term.
It was for this reason that the governors distanced themselves from the party’s presidential campaign.
Findings in their states showed that party members, especially elders, are sympathetic to the Atiku/Okowa cause.
BENUE
In Benue, unlike Ortom, most party members are not opposed to Atiku/Okowa ticket.
Party leaders and faithful at all levels have been going about galvanising support for candidates ahead of the 2023 general elections.
But one noticeable feature in the campaigns and activities of the party is the fact that nothing seems to be happening on the side of government to suggest that it is backing the candidature of Atiku.
The PDP government and the party secretariat have been silent on any form of campaign for Atiku.
The development clearly indicates that though Benue PDP is going about its activities to seek the mandate of the people for all other elective positions, that of the President is left unattended until the leader of the party, Ortom, gives the go-ahead.
Regardless of that, some PDP support groups are mobilising for Atiku in the state. Atiku Grassroots Movement, AGM, is one of them.
The group, which came into being some months back, was convened by a former Chairman of Benue Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, Mr. Terzungwe Atser, who, with the support of others, has set up the state office where their activities are being coordinated.
The Convener of the movement has been able to gather some other important personalities including former Local Government Council chairmen and former political appointees as well as several others to drum up support for the candidature of Atiku.
The group is making efforts to have its presence felt in all parts of the state with the recent inauguration of local government wings.
It urged its members to swiftly move into the hinterland and canvass support for the Atiku presidency.
Speaking on efforts to galvanise support for the PDP presidential candidate, Atser said:”So far, we are in the process of setting up the structures statewide.
“We have put up the structures at the state levels, local government levels and zonal levels. “Last Monday, we held a meeting and charged the local government officials to set up structures at the sub-ward levels.
“We plan that in a week we will be going around to inaugurate the structures at the local government and ward levels.
“We have no hitches whatsoever. We have set up an office in Makurdi already. Individually some people are setting up offices in their local government areas. We are sponsoring our activities.
“But just like any other support group, we are expecting assistance and support from the national secretariat.
“I am a card-carrying member of the PDP, so I have to support my party. I am convinced that among the candidates vying for the position of president of this country, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the best candidate and has a better idea of repositioning Nigeria.’’
Similarly, Ayu’s kinsmen under the aegis of Jemgbagh Development Association, have threatened political consequences against Ortom should he continue aligning with those seeking to force him to resign.
The threat was contained in the text of a press conference read by the President of the association, Terver Felix Abor.
Abor accused the governor of pursuing a deliberate attempt to undermine the people of Jemgbagh namely: “The honourable Minister (of Special Duties), Dr. George Akume, the former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and Senator Orker Jev.”
He further said:”We are disheartened that the governor who wants to be a senator for Zone B of Benue State comprising Jemgbagh and MINDA will involve himself among those destroying a Jamgbagh son, Ayu.’’
ENUGU
Party stakeholders in Enugu were found to be supportive of their presidential candidate. Some who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Ugwuanyi’s alignment with Wike’s stance is personal and not the position of the entire PDP members in the state.
They said it’s very unlikely that they would abandon the PDP presidential campaign because of Wike, who they said is fighting for himself and not the South.
For instance, the party’s governorship candidate, Mr Peter Mba, while fielding questions from newsmen, last Friday, said he had no reason not to support PDP in all elections.
Also, people like former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dubem Onyia, are known core supporters of Atiku.
“Our governor knows why he is aligning with Wike. The Rivers governor is not fighting for the South. He is fighting for his interest. Why should we align with such a person simply because he lost the party ticket? Enugu PDP members are for Atiku.
