On Monday, Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, claimed that the absence of Atiku Abubakar's and Iyorchia Ayu's images from PDP campaign materials in the state was due to the fact that he (Wike) had not been approached for any campaigning.
Atiku, according to the governor, chose "enemies" of Rivers to be on his campaign council for the general elections in 2023, which was inaugurated on Monday in Port Harcourt, the state's capital.
Additionally, he asserted that Atiku did not ask his permission before choosing Rivers residents to serve on his campaign council.
“Some people have asked me why is it that they don’t see the presidential candidate picture (and) the party chairman’s? I said what are you talking about? The presidential candidate entered my state and picked members of presidential council without a whole governor of a state having a contribution,” he said.
“The presidential candidate entered Rivers State picked those he wants to pick without the contribution of the governor. So, they said they don’t need me to campaign for them, that they don’t need Rivers people to campaign for them. Will you force yourself?
“I have never seen how people will disrespect a state like Rivers State and go and choose those who are enemies of the state without the contributions of us,” the governor added.
Wike has been having a running battle with Atiku and Ayu for months, insisting that northerners cannot occupy both positions. The governor and his allies have not attended any of Atiku’s rallies since the official commencement of campaigns on September 28, 2022.