Wike tells PDP it has only itself to blame as it lost elections because it abandoned zoning

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has lashed out at the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying their decision to abandon zoning for the 2023 presidential elections what an act of self-destruction which cost them dear.

On Saturday February 25, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and Inec has subsequently declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the APC the winner. Among the main gladiators in the contest were Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, ex-Anambra State governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman who served as the returning officer for the election, declared Asiwaju Tinubu the winner with 8,794,726  votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakar of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes. However, the PDP and Labour Party have refused to accept the results, taking to the courts to challenge the APCs victory.

In late June, the PDP elected  former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its flagbearer for next year's presidential election at its Abuja convention. Governor Wike of 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 and his supporters, made up primarily of four other governors, went on the war path. Governors Wike, Seyi Makinde  (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) made up what was known as the G5 Group of Governors and boycotted Atiku's campaign.

One of the key demands of the G5 was that PDP chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu stand down, as he, like Alhaji Abubakar is from northern Nigeria and for the sake of unity, it was argued that a southerner should replace him. However, the PDP defied them and the elections went ahead, with the G5 governors refusing to back the official PDP candidate.

Blaming the party hierarchy for the loss, Governor Wike said the abandoning of zoning ranks as the worst demonstration of self-destruction and anti-party conduct. Speaking in Port Harcourt where he hosted the three Rivers State senators-elect, who included incumbent deputy governor Dr Ipalibo Banigo, Barry Mpigi and Chief Allwell Onyesoh, Governor Wike said the PDP shot itself in the foot.

Blaming the violation of the PDP zoning for the defeat of the party in the presidential polls, Governor Wike reiterated that PDP’s constitution in Section 7(3)(c) states that in pursuant to the principles of equity, justice, and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation of elective and appointive offices. He emphasised that he is proud to have produced the state's three senators, adding that out of 13 House of Representatives members, 10 have been announced so far and the PDP has taken nine.

Governor Wike added: “We believe when the election is done in the other ones, we will also emerge victorious because Rivers has always been with PDP regarding issues of our local elections. When our party abandoned equity, fairness and justice, abandoned provisions of our constitution, which is the highest anti-party anybody can do, they also have to pay for it.

“Our own is unity of Nigeria and that is what we stand for. Unity of Nigeria is far above party interest.”

According to Governor Wike, the APC governors deserve commendation as the emergence of the president-elect of southern extraction, Bola Tinubu, was made possible because of the premium they attached to national unity.

Governor Wike said: “APC governors are my heroes. They came out openly to tell the world and tell Nigerians, look, the unity of this country is paramount. We don’t want Nigeria divided.

“I was shocked when all of them came out and said we have had it for eight years in the north, let it go south for eight years so we can have harmony, peace and unity.”