2023: PDP postpones presidential campaign to placate Wike

Feelers emerged on Wednesday that the Peoples Democratic Party has rescheduled its presidential campaign rallies for Kebbi and Zamfara states indefinitely.

The presidential rallies which were slated to take place on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13, 2022 respectively were, however, put on hold.

Though the party has not offered any explanation to that effect, The PUNCH learnt from unconfirmed sources that the party was halting the rallies to return to the negotiation table with the Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike.

The National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, had on Monday told a gathering of party faithful that the party’s train had moved but slowly to wait for those who might be joining them in the campaign.

Wike has been mounting pressure on the national chairman of the party to resign for balance, equity and fairness claiming that the party leadership is heavily dominated by the North.

According to the Rivers State governor, the national chairman promised to step aside once the party’s standard bearer emerged from the North.

He pointed out that for him to be part of the party’s affairs, the national chairman had to resign.

The Board of Trustees of the party led by former Senate President Adolphus Wabara has been making moves between the disputing parties to find a common ground.

A member of the BoT, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the BoT was done collating its recommendation from the various visitations.

It was further revealed that the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, enlisted some party chieftains such as former President of the Senate, David Mark, and former Delta State governor, James Ibori, to placate the Rivers State Governor on their rift, considering his value in the party.

Speaking on the postponement, the secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, former publicity secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, pointed out that the rally was not postponed or put on hold.

“No, no, no, the campaign was not put on hold. It was not suspended.”

In the meantime, some state chairmen of the party who spoke to The PUNCH expressed their support for the development to reconcile with the Rivers State governor while emphasising that Ayu must resign to give peace a chance.

National Organising Secretary of the party, Capt. Umar Bature, did not respond to calls and messages sent to his phone nor reverted to our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.