PDP: Tambuwal Did Not Betray Wike For Atiku – Dino Melaye

A former lawmaker representing Kogi West in the Senate, Dino Melaye has dismissed insinuations that Governor Aminu Tambuwal betrayed his friend and Rivers counterpart, Nyesom Wike.

Tambuwal was instrumental to the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate after he shockingly withdrew and backed the presidential ambition of the former Vice President.

Recall that Atiku defeated Nyesom Wike who was his closet rival at the presidential primary of the main opposition party on Saturday night.

Atiku gathered votes of 371 delegates while Wike, polled 237 votes.

Tambuwal’s withdrawal and backing of Atiku had drawn reactions from some Nigerians who felt the Sokoto Governor betrayed Wike who is his friend and who backed his ambition against that of the former VP in 2018.

Speaking on TVC’s current affairs programme, Journalists’ Hangout, Dino Melaye said betrayal shouldn’t be related to Tambuwal’s decision to step down for Atiku as there was no written agreement with Wike.

Dino Melaye said: “Governor Tambuwal saw the necessity to elect a candidate that can unite Nigeria because our dear nation needs a father figure who can unite everyone. Someone who will be able to unite Nigeria and that person is Atiku Abubakar.

“Alhaji Atiku is sound and healthy, politically sagacious and intellectually sound. Atiku will not fail, he will win by a landslide. Whatever APC is going to do in terms of manipulation, Atiku is the next president of Nigeria. Our convention has shown that we are more united than ever. We are on big family.”