The governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership to consider Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, for his presidential bid.
Governor Ikpeazu praised Rivers Governor as the strongest candidate the PDP can adopt in 2023.
He said this at a meeting between Wike and the party’s National Working Committee on Tuesday.
According to Governor and acceptability are the two major conditions for the PDP to seize power from the incumbent APC in 2023.
Governor Wike, he believes, has satisfied those standards and has shown commitment to the party, thus he should be permitted to fly the party’s flag.
Governor Wike, who was flanked by Hassan Dankwambo, the former Governor of Gombe State, urged the party not to be sentimental in their candidate selection process.
He stated that the party should assess who can help the PDP win elections, claiming that he had the necessary skills and is familiar with the ruling party’s approach.
He stated that the 2023 elections are the last chance for the party to recover, and that if permitted to fly the PDP flag and finally win the elections, he will bridge the gap between the party and the government.
Wike openly opposed consensus candidacy and wants the delegates to make their own decisions.
He also cautioned the group against disobeying court orders should they come in the buildup to the election.
Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP’s National Chairman, stated in his speech that all 17 presidential aspirants on the PDP platform will do better than President Muhammadu Buhari.
He reassured the aspirant that the candidate selection process would be transparent and devoid of bias.