Atiku Rejected Jonathan’s Pleas In 2015, Refused To Support Him – Wike

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike said on Tuesday that former President Goodluck Jonathan pleaded with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to support his re-election bid in 2015, but the Adamawa-born politician refused.

Wike made the remarks during the commissioning of the Akpabu-Itu-Umudiogha road in Rivers’ Emohua Local Government Area by Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi.

According to him, Jonathan traveled to London’s Dorchester Hotel to meet Atiku, but the former VP told Jonathan to return his ticket to him in 2015.

Wike, who ran in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary won by Atiku in May, said he will not ask Atiku to step down as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections. Instead, he believes Atiku should ensure that Iyorchia Ayu is replaced as PDP national chairman by a southerner.

Jonathan, the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2015, was defeated in re-election by All Progressives Congress candidate Muhammadu Buhari.

On November 17, Atiku and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, paid a visit to Jonathan at his Abuja residence in an attempt to resolve the PDP crisis, but the former President has not been heard from since.

Jonathan, the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2015, was defeated in re-election by All Progressives Congress candidate Muhammadu Buhari.

On November 17, Atiku and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, paid a visit to Jonathan at his Abuja residence in an attempt to resolve the PDP crisis, but the former President has not been heard from since.

With the 2023 presidential election just three months away, there are concerns that intra-party squabbles between Wike and Atiku over the chairmanship of Ayu will harm the Adamawa-born politicians’ chances in the polls next February.

Wike and four other PDP governors, known as the G5 or the Integrity Group, want Ayu to resign over what they call the party’s dominance of the north.

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