Atiku, Wike teams consider new date for parley

The reconciliation teams of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, are said to be considering a new date for their meeting.

A meeting of the two teams initially scheduled for Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State, did not hold as the Atiku team did not show up.

However, a party source told our correspondent that the teams were discussing the possibility of rescheduling the meeting for this weekend.

The source, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the public on the matter, said some of the people in the Atiku camp are unhappy with the slow pace of the reconciliation talks.

According to the source, some of the Governors in the Atiku camp are beginning to fret over the apparent deadlock in the talks.

“This could have explained why the governors did not join Atiku in Yola on Monday where a reception was held in his honour.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri is the leader of the Atiku team. Other members include Alhaji Sule Lamido, Senator Ben Obi, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), and Senator Liyel Imoke.

Former Ondo Governor Olusegun Mimiko leads the Wike team. Other members include Cheif David Mark, ex- Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, ex-Governor Donald Duke, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) Soji Adeniji among others.

Atiku and Wike have been at loggerheads following the candidate’s choice of Governor Okowa over Wike as presidential running mate.

The rift has degenerated to calls for the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu and his replacement with a chairman of Southern extraction.

But Ayu has vehemently rejected the call for his resignation, insisting that he was elected for a tenure of four years.