In a startling revelation, Paul Ibe, the spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, has shed light on the internal discord within the party. Speaking out on the recent departure of Peter Obi and the contentious issue of presidential zoning, Ibe implicated Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in the rift.
According to Ibe, Atiku Abubakar had advocated for the PDP to zone the 2023 presidential ticket to the Southeast region. However, he alleged that Wike played a decisive role in thwarting this plan, leading to the exit of Peter Obi from the party. Obi, who served as the vice presidential candidate for the PDP in the 2019 presidential election, defected to the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2023 polls.
Despite his departure, Obi garnered significant support in the 2023 election, amassing over six million votes. The aftermath of the election has left the PDP in disarray, grappling with unresolved internal conflicts.
Ibe clarified that Atiku Abubakar was prepared to step aside from the presidential ticket if the party had indeed agreed to zone it to the Southeast. However, he asserted that Wike’s opposition to this arrangement derailed Atiku’s intentions.
Speaking in an interview on Seun Okinbaloye’s Mic On podcast, Ibe emphasized Wike’s influence in promoting the zoning of the presidency to the southern region, rather than specifically to the Southeast. This, he claimed, was a pivotal factor in Wike’s bid to position himself favorably for the presidential ticket.
