The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, may have suffered a major setback in Rivers State, where local government chairmen have resolved to defy Governor Nyesom Wike’s order that they hand over their domains to the APC in the upcoming elections.
According to QUEST TIMES sources in Port Harcourt, the local government council chairmen have refused to carry out Wike’s directive to them last week to go to their respective local government areas and tell their people to vote for Tinubu.
The LGA chairmen politely declined the directive, telling him to “go round the local government areas and tell the people himself.”
According to our sources, some council chairmen who preferred anonymity, stated that the “mood of the people of Rivers State is for Peter Obi and any of the chairmen telling them otherwise is jeopardizing their future political careers, just like committing suicide.”
Wike, one of the five rebel governors known as the G-5 in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has vowed to work against his party’s candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the February 25 election.
According to QUEST TIMES sources, Wike has canvassed support for Tinubu because he appears to be the “most realistic option that can win the presidential election,” but has struggled to force him down the throats of his lieutenants.
Wike is said to be hell-bent on capitalizing on the apparent schism between his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Tinubu in the APC.
Wike’s strategists are said to be considering backing Tinubu in exchange for the victory of the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, Mr Siminialayi Fubara.
Wike led the G-5 to meet with Tinubu in December, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement in London.