PDP govs’ meetings in Enugu: Conditions before supporting Peter Obi emerges

The five Peoples Democratic Party governors who met in Enugu on Sunday, October 2, 2002, outlined some conditions before they could support Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election.

Reports filtered out mid-Sunday that aggrieved governors of PDP, comprising Governors Nyesom Wike, (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and the host, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State were meeting in Enugu.

It was learnt that while earlier reports showed that the plot to remove Iyorcha Ayu, the national chairman of the party was the main agenda, a credible source, who spoke to OpenLife early Monday said the major agenda was the consideration of Peter Obi’s application to the group to enlist their supports in the 2023 presidential race.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, met governor Nyesom Wike, the leader of those opposed to Atiku and Iyorcha Ayu on Friday, September 30, 2022, behind closed doors at the governor’s residence in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State barely 48 hours after the commencement of the presidential campaigns ahead of the general elections.

However, Obi and Wike did not speak with journalists after the meeting but understandably, insiders averred that the meeting was not unconnected with Obi’s ongoing consultations to enlist the support of those that can help his aspiration in 2023.

According to OpenLife source who was a top governorship aspirant in the Anambra State 2021 governorship election, “The meeting was called at the instance of Nyesom Wike to brief his fellow governor supporters on the outcome of his recent two meetings with the presidential candidate of their party, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour party.

“Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State volunteered to host and it was accepted. It was really not about Iyorcha Ayu as being reported. The main issue was about Peter Obi. They discussed the terms and conditions. Nyesom Wike was not particular about what he would get from Obi when he became President.

“He allowed others to name their terms and conditions. Wike’s only demand is not to be probed when Obi assumes office. But I am not sure if Obi has accepted that term. But the only governor that needs a concrete agreement with Obi is governor Makinde of Oyo State. Other governors who are going to Senate are sure of victories even without Obi.

“But governor Makinde is demanding 100 per cent supports from the Obi’s movement for his re-election because of the forces against him in Oyo State. He is afraid that he may not win but with Obi’s supporters voting for him, he would defeat APC’s formidable strength in Oyo,” the source disclosed.

The source disclosed further that governor Nyesom Wike would meet Olusegun Obasanjo “Soon,” to brief the former President, who is believed to be Obi’s major rally point, on the progress of the discussions.

It would be recalled that the PDP had been engulfed in crisis since its presidential primary in May.

Wike, who lost to Atiku, had expressed dissatisfaction with the exercise, stating that he was unfairly treated by the PDP and was not carried along.

Wike insisted that Ayu must resign if his camp must reach a truce with the party’s flag bearer but Atiku said he had no power to remove the chairman. Atiku said if the chairman must be removed, due process must be followed by the party’s constitution.