By It appears the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might have to intensify its efforts to pacify the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, as the 2023 polls draw closer.
Wike, who failed to clinch the PDP presidential ticket, has filed a suit against the party, its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal over the conduct of the party’s presidential primary.
Recall that Tambuwal stepped down to support the candidacy of the former Vice President, moments before the primary held in May. His move, as noted by political observers, helped Atiku emerge as the PDP presidential flagbearer.
According to The PUNCH, Wike and a PDP chieftain, Newgent Ekamon are listed as plaintiffs in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/782/2022.
They asked the court to determine whether the purported transfer of Tambuwal’s votes to Atiku by the PDP was illegal and void, among other issues.
Ekamon, in a supporting affidavit, attested to the fact that Wike won the presidential election, adding that Tambuwal withdrew from the contest after voting had commenced and directed that his votes be assigned to Atiku.
The applicants also told the court that the PDP and Atiku took undue advantage of Tambuwal’s withdrawal to secure victory for the former Vice-President in the primary.
They equally prayed the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Atiku from “its list of candidates in the 2023 presidential election”.
The applicants finally asked the court to order the PDP to declare Wike as the genuine winner of the PDP presidential primary and forward his name to INEC.
This development comes amid reconciliatory moves by the PDP to appease Wike who fell out with the party leadership since losing the primary election to Atiku. The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the decision of the PDP flagbearer to pick Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate for the 2023 elections.
