Atiku vs Wike: Ortom, Ayu’s Rift Stall Fresh PDP Reconciliation Bid

Fresh moves by the camp of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to reconcile with the G-5 governors led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State have suffered a major setback.

Naija News reports that Wike and governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Samuel Ortom of Benue, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State are demanding the removal or resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

Other members of the PDP backing Wike’s group are former governors Olusegun Mimiko from Ondo State, Ayo Fayose from Ekiti State, Donald Duke from Cross River State, Jonah Jang from Plateau State and former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George from Lagos State. Others are former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke; Deputy National Chairman South of the PDP, Taofeek Arapaja; Senator Nasif Suleiman, Nnena Ukeje, Senator Sandy Onor, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Cross River State, and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.

According to The Nation, the rivalry between Ortom and Ayu in the Benue State chapter of the PDP has stalled peace talks between the Integrity Group and Atiku’s camp.

It was gathered that the leadership of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council has agreed that fresh efforts should be made to appeal to Wike and the Integrity group to join the campaign to help Atiku Abubakar win the 2023 presidential election.

Sources revealed that the PDP presidential candidate was convinced to support the proposed reconciliation effort, which some party governors were saddled with the assignment.

The Nation reports that the Director-General of Atiku’s presidential campaign, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Atiku’s running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, have all made overtures to some of the aggrieved governors and their supporters in a bid to end the crisis rocking the main opposition party.

Revealing details of the meeting between Ortom and Tambuwal, a source said the Sokoto State Governor had said: “Internal party wrangling is normal and what we have been having is not a war of attrition but disagreement.

“We, even in our families, have reasons to disagree several times and even come back stronger. So, it’s a work in progress. We are interested in bringing everybody together and working together.”

Responding, Ortom said: “The leadership of this party has failed in taking advantage of the challenges of the party and make it stronger. They have failed to do this.

“Rather, it is arrogance, it is nonchalant attitude. Nobody has cared to reach out to us even when we voiced out that things weren’t going well. For me, I commend him (Tambuwal) for taking this step to visit me, and we have discussed my opinion on how I think this matter can be resolved and I believe that as a leader and as DG of the campaign, he will do the needful because I am not alone.”

It was also gathered that Tambuwal could not resolve the issues as Ortom supporters rejected any talk of reconciliation with Ayu and his allies in the state due to the internal crisis rocking the Benue State chapter.

A source told The Nation that: “Senator Ayu is the problem, and Tambuwal saw things for himself when he came. He was shown the many atrocities being committed by the National Chairman and his people here in Benue.

“How do you reconcile us with such people? The problem has been localized by Ayu and his people, and it will be difficult to solve.

“That is why the follow-up meeting promised by Tambuwal did not take place.”