Obasanjo, Obi meet ‘team Wike’ in London

The political stakeholders held a meeting in the United Kingdom to strategise ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Obasanjo, Obi meet ‘team Wike’ in London. [Facebook:Olalekan Adetayo]

London seems to be the new centre of action for Nigerian politicians ahead of the 2023 general elections as former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has just held a meeting with the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in the England capital.

How did it happen: Wike attended the meeting on Thursday, August 25, 2022, with a retinue of governors and other political allies from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, among others.

Although details of the meeting were still sketchy as of the time of this report, this reporter learnt that it was part of negotiations ahead of next year’s general elections.

Obi’s several meetings: Recall that Obi had met at separate times with Obasanjo and Wike in Nigeria, the London meeting is therefore touted to be an opportunity for all the parties to further deepen consultation as the elections draw near.

Why London: Pulse had earlier reported that the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, jetted out to London for a scheduled meeting with the Rivers State Governor later today.

This comes days after Wike reportedly met with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the England capital on Monday, August 22, 2022.

There are increasing fears in the PDP that the crisis between Wike and Atiku may affect the party’s chances in the 2023 general elections, especially because the Rivers Governor hasn’t hidden his intention to scuttle things if his demands were not met.

Wike meets Atiku in London, hours after meeting Obasanjo, Obi

Wike has had a busy day in London after a series of meetings with political stakeholders ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Atiku and Wike meet in London. [Twitter:Channels]

It seems the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may soon be a thing of the past as the main protagonists, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, finally met in London.

How it happend: The meeting, which took place on Thursday, August 25, 2022, was held a few hours after Wike, alongside his political allies, met with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Pulse reported that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke were among the Rivers Governor’s entourage at the meeting.

Wike and Atiku meet: Meanwhile, the same set of allies also joined Wike in the meeting with the PDP Presidential candidate, who also had in his company the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.

The long drawn out battle: Atiku and Wike have been having a running battle since the conclusion of the PDP presidential primary in May where the former defeated the latter in a controversial version.

The matter was further aggravated by the refusal of Atiku to pick the Governor as his running mate as recommended by a PDP committee.

Wike make moves: Wike has been holding series of meetings with politicians from opposition parties since then, including a purported meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in London on Monday, August 22, 2022.

As the Rivers State Governor continues to hedge his bets ahead of the 2023 general elections, it remains unknown, as of the time of filing this report, if he had agreed to work with the former Vice President.