Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and members of his camp have boycotted the official take-off of the presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the party under which they were elected.
The presidential campaign which is underway in Uyo officially takes-off one week after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, opened the 2023 campaign window.
All eyes have been on the Wike camp, with many waiting to see whether they would be part of the kick-off following a series of entreaties from the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, and other influential members of the party.
There was renewed optimism in the past week that peace will reign and Wike and his camp would join the presidential campaign council of the party after the acting Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, led a delegation to the Rivers State to meet with the governor.
Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had arrived in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital on Sunday ahead of the flag-off of the party’s Presidential Campaign on Monday.
They include; the Vice Presidential candidate and governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, Senator George Sekibo, Rivers East Senator, Senator Lee Maeba among others.
However, there are indications that the grievances of Wike’s team and their supporters had deepened following the decision of Atiku 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.
Atiku has personally met with Wike in Abuja after earlier failed meetings in the UK.