The main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, is shaken by the sudden resignation of Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State from the PDP Presidential Campaign Council on Saturday, December 1, 2018.
Governor Wike, inside sources have confirmed to The Trent, resigned from his role as the zonal co-ordinator of the South South from the Atiku PDP Presidential Organisation.
According to sources in the PDP, Wike’s move has “shaken the PDP to the core” and there has been moves from the top players in the party to pressurise him to reverse his decision.
The Rivers governor has not responded to text messages from our reporter on the subject. But sources close to the governor says that he is “refocusing his energies from national politics to local politics”.
“All politics is local,” a senior official in Rivers State told The Trent on condition of anonymity. “His Excellency, [Nyesom Wike] feels it is time to redraft his political strategy to strengthen his people at home.”
The Sun reports that Wike is angered by the lack of proper consultation with party leaders before key announcement are made by the Atiku Presidential Organisation.
In October, soon after Atiku Abubakar won the PDP’s presidential primary, Wike was named zonal co-ordinator of his campaign alongside, former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose for the South West, Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal for the North West, Gombe Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo for the North East, Benue Governor Samuel Ortom for the North Central, and Ebonyi Governor Dave Umahi for the South East.
Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki was appointed as the director general of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Council.
Wike is running for a second term in office as governor of Rivers State.
