Wike moves against Atiku supporters resident in Rivers State as PDP battle intensifies

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike appears to have stepped up attacks against the supporters of former vice president Atiku Abubakar in Rivers State with the sealing of the filling station in Port Harcourt belonging to Federal House of Representatives member Chinyere Igwe.

In late June, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) elected former vice president Alhaji Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election at its annual convention. Governor Wike was a candidate in that election but he was beaten into second place and to make matters worse for him, he was not then picked as the party's running mate.

With Alhaji Abubakar opting to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as his running mate, Governor Wike has been on the war path and there are now fears that he will dump the PDP. Among other things, he has been fraternizing with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress lately, amid talk of him possibly decamping.

Over the last few days, the petrol station of Hon Igwe has been sealed off by operatives answerable o the governor. Hon Igwe is an ally of former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Austin Opara, who is a staunch supporter of Alhaji Abubakar.

Also a hotel said to be owned by Ikenda Chinda, a relative to Austin Opara, has also been sealed off. Similarly, a lounge belonging to Ogbonda Jones, who is also an ally of Hon Opara, has also been sealed up by the police.

According to Hon Igwe the sealing of his filling station is politically motivated. Two weeks ago Governor Wike had threatened to seal off hotels and relaxation centres of those who let out their facilities for political meetings of those he accused of plotting to destabilise the state.