Paul Ibe, the spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, has pointed fingers at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accusing him of frustrating the Southeastern presidential zoning within the party, rather than Atiku.
Speaking on Seun Okinbaloye’s Mic On podcast, Ibe clarified that Atiku had advocated for the PDP to allocate the 2023 presidential ticket to the Southeast region. However, he alleged that Wike played a pivotal role in thwarting this effort.
The backdrop of this accusation stems from the departure of Peter Obi, the former vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 elections, who shifted allegiance to the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2023 presidential election. Despite Obi’s move, he garnered over six million votes in the 2023 presidential contest, where both the PDP and LP were defeated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Since then, the PDP has been grappling with internal strife.
See Also: Why I Quit PDP, Presidential Primary –Peter Obi
Ibe reiterated Atiku’s willingness to endorse the zoning of the PDP’s presidential ticket to the Southeast. However, he alleged that Wike impeded this objective by promoting the zoning of the presidency to the broader south, rather than specifically to the southeast.
Contrary to speculations, Ibe emphasized that Atiku did not exert pressure to drive Peter Obi out of the party. Instead, he attributed Obi’s exit to Wike’s advocacy for a broader southern zoning, which he believed would position him favorably for the presidential ticket.
Ibe quoted Atiku’s stance, stating, “Atiku Abubakar had said that he was prepared to step aside from the ticket if the party zoned it to the Southeast. Wike frustrated that effort because he believed that if it was zoned to the south, not the southeast, he would be in the best position to secure the ticket.”
These allegations shed light on the internal dynamics within the PDP, particularly concerning regional zoning and the influence of key party figures like Atiku and Wike, as the party navigates its political landscape in the aftermath of the 2023 elections.
Source: VanguardNGR