PDP governors hold another meeting in London as Wike camp fails to reconcile with Atiku

LEADERS of Nigeria's main opposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held another emergency meeting in London yesterday as the crisis ricking the party in the run-up to next year's presidential elections refuses to go away.

In late June at its annual convention in Abuja, the PDP, elected former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State 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 (APC)  lately, amid talk of him possibly decamping.

Over the last fortnight, there have been a series of meetings in London to resolve the crisis, with Atiku flying to the UK to meet with Governor Wike in person. Among the demands made by the Wike camp are that PDP chairman Senator Ayu should stand down as party chairman because he was not neutral during the primaries.

However, Senator Ayu has dismissed such calls, calling those demanding his resignation  children, pointing out that he has not committed any offence that would warrant him being asked to step down. He dismissed those asking for his sacking as people who want to destabilise the party.

With the spat between the two camps deteriorating Governor Wike and his key supporters held another emergency meeting in London to review the situation. Those at the London meeting included the r4espective governors of Benue and Oyo states, Samuel Ortom and Seyi Makinde.

Although details of the Friday meeting have not been made public, political watchers believe it may be connected to the crisis within the PDP. Governor Makinde, who has been on his annual vacation since the last meeting, was first joined by Governor Wike, while Governor Ortom who was on his way to the US, made a stopover for the meeting.

Apparently, the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu may join the PDP governors in the UK to conclude the previous meeting. He has met with the three governors along with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and other PDP stalwarts in London on August 23.