The gang-up against Atiku

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in fresh crises as its governors take on the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar over the selection of Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate, writes Akani Alaka 

One thing that is very clear in the ranks of the main opposition party in the country, l the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is that it would require more than just waving the magic wand of believed supremacy of the party to make a major impression in (let alone win) next year’s presidential election. The Nigerian Xpress gathered that victory for PDP, come February 2023 will require lot more than political brinkmanship, lobbying, convincing, and a generous dose of horse trading.

With the presidential ticket in his pocket and the issue of running mate settled, former vice president Atiku Abubakar obviously thought he had ticked all the boxes necessary for him to not only be on the ballot as the candidate of the main PDP in the 2023 election, but lead the party to victory in the polls. With the campaign period still some months away, Atiku had left for Dubai, where he usually spends most of his times out of the political season in Nigeria few weeks ago.  Aides and loyalists of the former President had been busy sharing different pictures of Atiku as he enjoyed himself in their company at various relaxation spots in the Middle East city.

READ ALSO: Okowa’s Atiku Burden: PDP presidential running mate faces Obi challenge in southern Nigeria

However, the former Vice President and his political associates were jolted back to reality last week with indication that his presidential ambition, contrary to belief, does not yet enjoy support of key members of his party.

The crises was a fallout of the bitterly fought presidential primary of the PDP in which the Adamawa-born retired Customs officer defeated Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for the ticket.  Atiku, had won the primary election with 371 votes to defeat Wike who could only polled 237 votes, the second highest at the special convention.

The Rivers State Governor lost the election despite embarking on a rigorous, campaign marked by cantankerous outbursts in which he not only sold himself as the  only candidate capable of leading the PDP to victory in 2023 election, but also vigorously de-marketed Atiku as unfit to represent the party,  given the role he played in bringing the ruling APC into power when he defected to the party ahead of the 2015 election.

He had also anchored his ambition of the demand for zoning of 2023 ticket of the ruling party to the Southern part of the country, as demanded by governors from the region at the meetings in Lagos and Asaba, Delta State respectively. Wike’s loss of the presidential ticket was shocking to his loyalists as well as governors who are in his camp in the PDP. 

Wike’s Turbulence Hits PDP 

The Rivers State Governor himself has not spoken much on his loss beyond accusing some governors who had pushed for zoning of the 2023 presidential ticket of the party to the Southern part of the country, but supported Atiku at the primary, of betrayal.

While all eyes were on Wike, with Atiku from Adamawa in Northern part of Nigeria, it was foregone conclusion that his running mate would be from the Southern part of the country. Many members of the party had also argued that with the PDP as the governing party in all the states in the South-south region with the exception of Cross Rivers,  governors from the region have an advantage over their peers from others parts of the South.

Therefore, Wike was mentioned alongside Ifeanyi Okowa , his Delta State  counterpart as the leading candidates for selection as the running mate to the PDP presidential candidate.

Loyalists and supporters of Wike believe he should get the position because as a just compensation for his past contributions to the sustenance of PDP as a viable opposition party in Nigeria, when others, including Atiku, abandoned it for the now ruling APC.

This was in addition to the fact that Wike also came second to Atiku in the presidential primary of the PDP. His loyalists said he was able to garner votes from delegates from all parts of the country and would therefore help the party to win the 2023 election.

However, those in favour of the Delta State governor argued that he contributed to the emergence of Atiku by getting delegates from Delta to vote for him at the PDP presidential primary and should therefore be rewarded with the running mate position.

Most governors of the party who are mostly from the South had supported selection of Wike for the position. However, their Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal had argued that the running mate to Atiku need not be a governor.

Atiku had set up a 17-man committee to help him decide on who between Wike, Okowa and other governors linked with the position should be selected as his running mate.  The Committee, chaired by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, voted overwhelmingly in favour of Wike. By 14 votes to 3, as Ortom would later confirm.

Okowa Upstages Wike

But contrary to the Committee’s recommendation, Atiku had on June 16 announced Okowa of Delta as his running mate for the 2023 poll at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.

The former vice president told party members who gathered for the occasion that he chooses Okowa out of three eminently qualified persons recommended to him by the Committee. “He personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and deserve.

“He is a serving state governor who has demonstrated, in his state and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people,” he said as his reason for choosing Okowa to the cheers of PDP leaders, led by the party’s chairman, Iyorcha Ayu who were present at the occasion.

Sources informed this newspaper that Wike had moved to Abuja after he got information that he was recommended for selection as the running mate a day before, but he hurriedly left on that Thursday morning after he got information that he was not Atiku’s final choice.

It was learnt that many PDP governors were angry about the neglect of the Committee’s recommendation by Atiku in deciding on the final choice of his running mate.

Former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, one of those who supported the ambition of Atiku and vehemently opposed the call for zoning of presidential ticket of PDP, worsened matters when he tried to justify Atiku’s choice during a television appearance.

Aliyu had derisively dismissed the Rivers State governor, saying he talks too much and will not compliment the PDP presidential ticket. The former governor added that Wike insulted his way into power.

“You choose people who will compliment your office. People that are ready to take over from you and will make you comfortable. Unfortunately, I don’t know if it is his power. Some times when you speak too much. When you insult your way to power, it does not always happen.

“I can count many people who he has insulted. People will say he is always speaking his mind. But there are times you don’t need to speak your mind.”

Ortom, Fayose Spill Bottled Up Anger

But Wike did not react to the claim by Aliyu. However, the Rivers State Governor had in Port Harcourt begun receiving leaders of opposition parties, leading to speculations that he may be looking ahead to a political future outside of the PDP.

He received Dave Umahi, the governor of Ebonyi State and a chieftain of APC, with whom he had previously had a well reported media spat. They made up, Nigerians were told. Umahi’s visit to Port Harcourt was followed by that of the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, as well as Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the flag bearer of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.

Instructively, no statements were issued after the meetings, thus Wike had kept Nigerians guessing about his next step after losing the presidential ticket and the vice president slot of PDP.

The Rivers State Governor soon took a vacation to Turkey, accompanied by one of his rabid supporters and governor of Abia State,  Okezie Ikpeazu. Wike was still holidaying as in far away Turkey when Ortom revealed on national television that the issue of the running mate to Atiku remains an improperly buried corpse for the PDP.

Indeed, the Benue State Governor said with the anger generated by his the neglect of Wike by Atiku, he was not sure if he would be supporting the presidential ambition of the former vice president. Ortom said Wike, was badly treated by the Atiku. He noted that Atiku had chosen Okowa as this running mate instead of Wike whom 14 out of 17 members of Commitee he set up voted for.

Ortom, who added that he is waiting on God to know if he will support Atiku 2023 presidential ambition, added that the former vice president failed to reach out to Wike after he failed to choose him, insisting that the Waziri Adamawa would have to make peace with Wike before he (Ortom) would consider support Atiku for 2023 presidential election.

The Benue Governor said, “I was among the 17-member committee set up by Atiku, and 14 of us in the committee said the person should be Wike. Unfortunately, Atiku picked Okowa. That is his wisdom. You cannot ignore decision of a committee you set up yourself and expect people to be happy. For now, I have gone into hibernation.

“I am in hibernation. I am praying. When I finish the prayers and whatever God directs me, I will do. We expect Atiku to do more but we are not seeing that. They should stop that. Atiku should go to him (Wike). Why won’t he ignore their calls. Is that not an insult? Wike is a pillar in the party.

“Currently, Nobody in the party has contributed more for the party to move forward than Wike. If Atiku was not going to honour the decision of the committee, he should have called Wike earlier and informed him. He didn’t do that. You can’t do things anyhow and expect us to be happy.”

As if on cue, Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti state had also declare that he will continue his agitations for Southern Presidency. He also told an online newspaper that Atiku had promised that he will select Wike after he won the presidential primary of PDP, but failed to keep his promise. “Wike never said he wanted to be VP, but when Atiku visited him, he was the one who said, ‘I want you to be my VP’.

He said that to Wike. If that then changes, is Wike not supposed to be told? Is he not supposed to know?”, Fayose who also reiterated that Atiku abandoned the recommendation of the Committee  set up by the party on the issue said.  “If the party is now a one-man show, we will show them that we can resist it. We are with Wike 100 per cent. When they need Wike’s money and Wike’s support, they will say, ‘Wike is good enough’. Wike has been injured, but we will remain with him. Whatever he does is what we would do; wherever he asks us to go is where we will go.”

Although Fayose, leader of the party in Ekiti State, had stood for the presidential primary, he ensured that the delegates he had brought to Abuja – bar none – cast all their votes for Wike. In fact the only one who was rumured to have voted the other way was instantly sactioned and literally excommunicated from the Fayose political family.

The former Ekiti State governor was emphatic that Wike will never ask them , his supporters, to support Atiku: “Wike will never say we should support Atiku. Wike cannot come out to say he is supporting Atiku. I dare him to say so, because he knows that whatever he says will haunt him forever. If Wike supports Atiku, we will abandon him.”

Waging Zoning Argument Against Atiku

Still indicating his opposition to Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate, Fayose, via his verified twitter handle, Gov@Ayo Fayose, argued that section 3(c) of the PDP constitution provided for a rotational presidency: “The PDP Constitution provides for a rotational Presidency. Section 3(c) provides that the party shall pursue its aims & objectives by ‘adhering to the policy of the rotation & zoning of party & public elective offices in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.

“The current President of Nigeria is a 2-term Northern Presidency, thus implying that it MUST be a Southern Presidency in 2023 or NOTHING.  Awa ‘South’ lo kan’., Fayose restated,  in obvious parody of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s battle cry of “Emi lo kan”  (it’s my turn) ahead of the APC presidential primary.

Gang up against Atiku: More to follow

Nigerians should await details soon.” Aside Ortom and Fayose, it was gathered that most of the governors of PDP in the South, probably with the exception of Governor of Edo State, are on the side of Wike. They have also won many key members of the National Assembly to their part.

One PDP lawmaker from the North Central told the Nigerian Xpress in confidence that they are convinced that the ditching of Wike for Okowa is a complete northern agenda. “Having handed Tinubu the APC ticket, which he so desperately desired, those who call the shorts in the North may have resolved that they would pull out every Northern support for APC, leaving Asiwaju with an empty shell of a party, while the soul of the party would coalesce behind Atiku and the PDP, to ensure that the presidency remains in the North. With the Fulani. a

“It is in view of this possibility that the Northern oligarchs, from across party lines, are insisting that a Wike who has ‘insulted’ everything dear to them must never be on the ballot as running mate.”

According to the lawmaker,  Although I still believe Wike has the potential to help us win the election (whether as Presidentil candidate or running mate,  a lot of our leaders in the North have actually taken the anti-Wike campaign to a ridiculous height. They say they genuinely fear for Atiku’s safety if he were to have a Wike as Vice President.That the Rivers State Governor is too ambitious to be anybody’s running mate.

“My belief for now, therfore, is that even if, in the wildest imagination, there is a pressing need to replace Okowa, Wike might still not be their preferred replacement”, the lawmaker postulated.

Meanwhile, this newspaper learnt that as a result of this widespread disaffection, most of the governors in the South have so far refused to associate with Okowa.

For one, since his emergence, the only Governor who has invited the Delta State Governor for a high profile event was Tambuwal of Sokoto state. Tambuwal had invited Atiku for a ceremony where some members of APC defected to the PDP last week. Aside Tambuwal, the PDP has three other governors in the North.

One of the governors is Ortom who has already indicated that he is not yet sure if he will be backing Atiku’s ambition to become Nigeria’s next president. Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State is also believed to be in the camp of Wike.

Thus, aside Tambuwal, the only governor Atiku is sure of his support, at least for now, is the governor of his home state of Adamawa, Umaru Fintiri.

However, this newspaper gathered that the former vice president is counting on the strong support he is enjoying among members of PDP NWC, the Board of Trustees and other organs believed to be populated by his loyalists. The problem is that none of those members controls the number of loyal troops each governor controls.

Tottering On Edge Of Disaster

Understandably,  therefore, analysts say the former Vice President’s presidential ambition may be effectively dead if he cannot get the governors, especially those from the South where PDP had always got the majority of his votes to his side.

Atiku’s position is even made more precarious by the wide support the Labour Party, represent by former Anambra State governor Peter Obi is now getting in all the three regions of the South. 

Jonah Jang, a member of PDP BOT noted that the governors cannot be neglected if the party wants to achieve its aim of displacing the APC in 2015. He noted that PDP governors have started distancing themselves from the activities of the party while other chieftains of the party are speaking openly against it.

The former Plateau State Governor said contrary to his unifier campaign, Atiku is not doing enough to bring members of the party together.  “Until we correct the mistakes, which we deliberately made, the future is bleak and the PDP may be caught in a trap it has set for itself. We cannot run a campaign for a candidate whose campaign promise is hinged on uniting Nigerians but not be seen to be doing enough to bring party members together,” the elder statesman said. 

Difficult Days Ahead

The former Vice President Atiku had last Thursday indicated his readiness to tackle the brewing controversies in the party. “We are taking action to address the feelings of all party members,” said Atiku who added that he always listens to governors, legislators and other elected officials of the party when they speak, “I listen. I do not only listen, appropriate actions have been taken, are being taken, and will continue to be advanced.”

But there seems not to be an easy way out for Atiku. Some reports indicated that some of the governors are asking him to rescind his decision on the choice of the vice president in favour of Wike. But sources close to the former Vice President said this may not be possible. It is also doubtful that Wike, having been scorned earlier, would be ready to accept the running mate offer again.

Already, associates of Atiku have dismissed such suggestion as they advance arguments that Wike was rejected because he may not be acceptable in the Northern part of the country given the way he has championed issues like RUGA and payment of VAT to states .

The Rivers State governor also seemed not ready to be pacified as he refused to meet an envoy sent to meet him in Turkey while he was on vacation.

However, Wike came back to Rivers State last Saturday while Atiku is also expected to return home to continue the battle to ensure that PDP did not go into the 2023 election as a divided house. Can the PDP put out the fire in its house before the 2023 election? That question will be answered in the next few days.