2023 Polls: Wike’s Allies Shun Atiku, Ayu, Others In C-River
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Unalloyed loyalty to the G-5 Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been identified as the major reason members of the Party’s State Working Committee (SWC) in Cross River shunned the recently held PDP presidential campaign rally at the U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, the State capital
Led by the State PDP Chairman, Barrister Venatius Ikem, SWC members as well as the Party’s governorship candidate, Professor Sandy Onor, and his running mate, Emana Duke, were conspicuously absent from the rally venue.
Competent sources within the party hinted that the decision to stay away from the rally was based on their closeness to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who is not only the arrowhead of the G-5 governors but the assumed financier of the PDP in Cross River State since the defection of Governor Ben Ayade to the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Other members of the G-5, also called the ‘Integrity Group’ are Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State) who have all fallen out with their PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
The unfolding drama led to the PDP’s flag not being presented to the gubernatorial candidate of the party by Alhaji Abubakar in keeping with the usual tradition of events marking the presidential rallies,
However, what some party top shots considered a minor drawback did not take the shine off the presidential rally as the PDP Standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar, accompanied by former governor of Cross River, Sen Liyel Imoke, National Chairman Sen Iyorchia Ayu and Chieftains of the Party across the country stormed the venue looking radiant in their Efik traditional attire.
Addressing party faithful at the campaign rally, Atiku promised to ensure the Calabar Port comes alive if elected president, noting that the plan is to not only open up economic activities within the eastern flank of the country but also spur up interest from investors along the North East region.
He pleaded with the people to continue demonstrating unshaken faith in the party as they have always done until victory is achieved on February 25, 2023.
Given the unbending position of the G5 governors camp in their demands, the Cross River State PDP governorship flag bearer, Sen Sandy Onor is identified as a strong ally of Gov Nyesom Wike.
Late last year, the State working committee of PDP took delivery of 25 campaign busses, courtesy of the Rivers State governor while the leader of Atiku”s campaign structure in the State, Sen Liyel Imoke only received three (3) campaign busses from Atiku’s running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa
