Wike revokes approval of Atiku’s campaign venue in the PDP crisis

The Rivers State government, led by Governor Nyesom Wike, is said to have denied Atiku Abubakar’s request to utilize the Adoki Amasiaemeka Stadium in Igwurita Ali’s Local Government Area.

According to Thisweekng, On February 11, 2023, Atiku and his campaign train would host a rally there.

However, the state government revealed on Wednesday that it had withdrawn the earlier consent it had given to the former vice president.

The government would have access to the location 48 hours prior to the electioneering event, although PDP had received consent for the use of the location a few weeks earlier.

However, in a letter dated January 31, 2023, that was sent to Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto State, and the director general of the Atiku campaign organization, Barrister Christopher Green stated that intelligence revealed that the Atiku campaign organization was working with APC governorship candidate Arch. Tonye Cole to accommodate and share the facility that had been approved for the presidential campaign.

The letter reads: “Refer to our letter of reference no.mos/s/409/s.49./t/15 of 11th, January 2023 approving the use of the Adoki Amasiaemeka Stadium for your presidential campaign rally scheduled to hold on February 11, 2023. Credible intelligence is available to the Rivers State government and recent developments now show that your presidential campaign organization is working in collaboration with a faction of APC and it is the intention of your presidential campaign organization to accommodate and share the approved facility for your campaign with the said faction of APC.

“The government record shows that the activities of the APC in Rivers State have always been marred by violence due largely to irreconcilable internal conflict within the party.”

According to Wike’s administration, the decision to revoke the stadium’s authorization for use by the Atiku presidential campaign was made in light of reliable intelligence.

The Rivers State PDP Presidential Campaign Organization has not yet made an official statement regarding the most recent development.

Remember that Governor Wike is spearheading five PDP governors who are unhappy in their opposition to the party’s leadership. The G-5 governors have threatened not to back the party’s presidential nominee in the upcoming election unless the national chairperson is held by a person from the South.