PDP crisis: I met with Wike five times — no issue on my part, says Atiku

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says it is no fault of his that the crisis in the party is yet to be resolved.

He spoke on Sunday at the ‘People’s Townhall’ series for presidential candidates and their running mates, organised by Channels Television.

There is current crisis in the PDP over calls for Iyorchia Ayu to step down from his position as national chairman of the party.

The calls, championed by Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, and his allies, are based on the grounds that the PDP presidential candidate and national chairman cannot be from the same region.

Ayu and Abubakar are both northerners.

Speaking on Sunday, the PDP presidential candidate said he met with Wike five times — within and outside the country — on the development.

“I have met Wike two times in Port Harcourt, two times in Abuja, one time in London — personally,” he said.

Asked why things have been difficult to sort out, Abubakar said: “It’s not on my part. It’s on the other side. I’m waiting.”

Meanwhile, Abubakar’s comment comes shortly after Wike said it is an insult to Nigerians for another northerner to be contesting the presidency since the current president is from the north.

Speaking on Sunday at an event held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, Wike said he also does not support the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“You play on people’s intelligence. You say Nigeria is not ripe for Muslim-Muslim ticket, I agree. But Nigeria is ripe for presidency to remain in one zone? I mean, just look at the insult. You blow hot and cold,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wike has since distanced himself from the PDP presidential campaign council.