The recent meeting between the camp of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, may have unsettled forces in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News gathered that Peter Obi had held talks with Wike and his loyalists over backing his presidential bid in 2023.
Those at the meeting held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, included Governors Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), former governors Donald Duke (Cross River), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Senator Olaka Nwogu, Dan Orbih, and Nnenna Ukeje, among others.
Wike loyalists were in Rivers State on Monday in preparation for the reconciliation meeting with Abubakar’s team, but they were told the parley would no longer hold.
A source revealed that Wike’s loyalists, disappointed that Atiku’s camp postponed the meeting without adequately communicating with them, later accompanied the Rivers State Governor to the birthday celebration of former Governor Peter Odili.
The source told The Nation: “There was supposed to be a reconciliation meeting between the team of Governor Nyesom Wike and that of the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The meeting was supposed to hold at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt.
“While Team Wike was present, the team of Atiku Abubakar did not come. They didn’t communicate any shift of the meeting to Team Wike.
“The Wike’s team was already in Port Harcourt when it learned that Atiku’s team was no longer coming.
“They shifted the meeting to this weekend. Wike’s team then accompanied the governor to the birthday celebration of former Governor Peter Odili.”
According to the source, Peter Obi, who learned that Wike and his loyalists had converged in Port Harcourt, decided to rush down to meet with them.
The source added: “Someone must have told Obi about the presence of Wike’s team. He rushed down to Port Harcourt. He simply wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. They all met behind closed doors.
“Though the subject matter was not disclosed, it bordered on the 2023 presidential election. He wanted Wike and his team to support him. Obi didn’t attend Odili’s birthday.”
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