- Wike claims some PDP presidential aspirants were allegedly planted the same way ex-national chairman of the party Ali Modu Sheriff was reportedly planted too
- The Rivers governor says he is not fooled by the people vying for the PDP ticket because he knows their sponsors
- The APC dares Wike to name the presidential aspirants it is allegedly sponsoring on the PDP platform
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has come under fire for claiming that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is sponsoring some presidential aspirants vying for opposition tickets.
Wike told Premium Times in an interview published on Sunday, September 9 that some of the current presidential aspirants in the PDP were being sponsored by the APC to destabilise the party.
"In politics, every governor supports the party. Most leaders support the party. Those who are complaining about me are those who are afraid because they are the agents of APC.
"We know those PDP presidential aspirants who are agents of PDP. We know them. The presidency and the APC have planted people within our party, and we know it.
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"They planted Modu Sheriff and we fell for it. I bought into it not knowing it was a set-up. And then when we realised, we said no, we have to fight it. And we fought it.
"I cannot again fall the fool that I became under Ali Modu Sheriff. I know some of our presidential aspirants who are running on the sponsorship of the APC and the presidency," Wike said in response to why some top party members are against him.
The APC was swift in its reaction, releasing a statement same day through its spokesperson Yekini Nabena, who claimed that Wike’s statement was sign of PDP's worries over 2019 elections.
The statement read: “We challenge Governor Wike to be brave enough and name the APC-sponsored aspirants among the crowd that have signified interest to run for the presidency under the PDP.
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“Instead of putting it house in order, it is laughable that Governor Wike and his PDP cohorts are clutching on straws it is desperate bid to remain in public reckoning in the face of imminent 2019 defeat.”
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reported that former vice president and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, met with regional leaders led by Chief Edwin Clark.
The meeting was held at Clark's Asokoro residence in Abuja and was reportedly to notify the leaders of Atiku's desire to contest for the presidential ticket of the opposition party.
Other leaders present include those of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) which Clark belongs to, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Middle Belt Forum.
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Source: Naija.ng
