Intrigue as more PDP govs, including Wike’s boy dump Rivers gov for Atiku

As events leading to campaign tee off in the PDP, Rivers Gov. Nyesom Wike risks being isolated, and more governors, especially those party insiders call floaters are drifting towards presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

Before now, those who were yet to pitch their tent on either side of the crisis between Wike and Atiku were Akwa Ibom Gov Emmanuel Udom and Edo Gov. Godwin Obaseki.

The two were mostly absent from meetings and sessions the party’s national body called to either resolve the Wike-Iyorcha Ayu debacle or prepare for the presidential campaign.

Things are different now.

On the presidential council the party just inaugurated on Thursday, the National Daily gathered that a floater and a Wike loyalist, both governors, are prominent.

Udom has been appointed as the campaign council chairman. And Oyo Gov. Seyi Makinde, who called for Chairman Ayu resignation on Wednesday, will act as the vice chairman of the south directorate of the 326-man council.

Makinde is the southwestern crutch of the Wike rebellion against his party, and its presidential election success. Both, alongside two others, have been jetting in out of London and Nigeria to hold meetings and strategize against Atiku.

But the Oyo governor has yet to decline the Atiku offer.

Other council members listed in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Malam Umar Bature, include Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State as the Director-General; Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State as Vice-Chairman (North)

It has Sen. Liyel Imoke as Deputy Director-General (Operations), Prof. Adewale Oladipo, as Deputy Director-General (Administration), High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Deputy Director-General (Technical and Systems) and Okwesilieze Nwodo, Deputy Director-General (Research and Strategy).

Bature stated also that Mr Adeyemi Mayegun would serve as Administrative Secretary.

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Still standing with the Rivers governor are Benue Gov Samuel Ortom, who is still gaming the crisis; Enugu Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi already known as the ‘weakest link’; and Abia Gov Okezie Ikpeazu.