In Nigeria, internal dissension is disrupting the campaign of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the official opposition. For several weeks, the governor of Rivers State – who came second in the party’s primary – has been giving Abubakar Atiku, the candidate nominated to compete in the February 2023 presidential election, a hard time. The pundits of the PDP are busy trying to resolve this crisis which never ends.
With our correspondent in Lagos, Liza Fabbian
Already chafed by his defeat in his party’s primary in June, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike also apparently did not appreciate thatAbubakar Atiku – the official opposition candidate – does not choose him as a running mate and potential vice president, preferring to nominate the governor of Delta State.
Since then, confusion reigns and rumors multiply: Nyesom Wike would prevent members of the PDP from campaigning for Atiku in his region. He would have approached the presidential party (APC) and would have even filed a legal action to have the results of the primary annulled.
The entourage of the person concerned firmly denies and accuses those close to Abubakar Atiku of spreading false information to discredit the governor of Rivers.
Still, this case is symptomatic of a malaise within the PDP.
Several governors in southern Nigeria believe that their party’s rules have not been respected and are unhappy that a Muslim candidate from the north of the country has been chosen to try to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, himself a Muslim and native of the North.
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In the meantime, discussions are underway to set up a ” reconciliation committee responsible for facilitating dialogue between Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike who has so far refused to meet the PDP candidate.