The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally confirmed that Governor Nyesom Wike's team will not be taking part in the party's presidential campaign for the 2023 elections.
The group announced its position during a lengthy discussion that began at Wike's private residence in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, at around 7 p.m. yesterday and finished well after 2 a.m. this morning.
None of the group's members, they claimed, will take part in the campaign council in any form unless Iyorchia Ayu, the party's national chairman, steps down in favour of a southern candidate.
Recently, some group members were chosen to serve as campaign council members and leaders for the party's presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Present at this defining gathering at Wike’s residence in Port Harcourt include Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; former Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Donald Duke of Cross River, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe and Jonah Jang of Plateau, former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke.
Others at the meeting are elder statesmen, Olabode George, Jerry Gana; South-South Chairman of the PDP, Dan Orbih; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche; Senator Suleiman Nazif, Nnenna Ukeje, among several others.
After over seven hours of private meeting from 7pm on Tuesday, September 20 to past 2am on Wednesday September 21, they gather to briefing journalists on the outcome, with Chief Olabode George stating the shocker.