The spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, Leloonu Nwibubasa has alleged that Governor Nyesom Wike has directed his supporters to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

Nwibubasa stated this in a recent interview with The Punch.

He however accused Wike of lacking the courage to openly come out himself and declare support for the APC presidential candidate.

Asked during the interview if there is any truth in rumours that Wike is supporting the APC presidential candidate, Nwibubasa responded that government appointees in Rivers State including those elected on the platform of the PDP as chairmen of council and members of the state House of Assembly and even members of the House of Representatives and Senate have been speaking to the people at the grassroots, directing them to vote Bola Ahmed Tinubu for president.

He however alleged that Rivers State people have been rejecting the directive.

According to him, “Well, for Rivers State, I can say it authoritatively that appointees of government and those elected on the platform of the PDP as chairmen of council and members of the state House of Assembly and even members of the House of Representatives and Senate have been speaking to our people at the grassroots, directing them to vote Bola Ahmed Tinubu for president.

“Unfortunately for them, they have met very stiff resistance and people have told them a capital no, that they are going to vote for the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“So, it is no longer news. And of course, a few days ago, Governor Wike said in one of his campaigns in Okrika that he never told Nigerians he was going to call a world press conference to inform them of who his presidential candidate is. But he informed the people and he asked the people and in a chorus answer, the people said yes we are aware of your directive.

“He also spoke very strongly against Atiku Abubakar for supporting the naira redesign and ending the old naira notes and urged Nigerians not to vote for him. So, it is clear that Atiku Abubakar is not his choice and he has asked the people to vote for Tinubu.”

He added that the dissatisfaction of the G-5 governors, would not negatively affect the chances of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the February 25 presidential election because other G5 members have dumped Wike and returned to the mainstream PDP.

Wike Lacks Courage

Nwibubasa also accused Governor Wike of lacking the courage to openly reveal the presidential candidate his supporters should vote for.

The Rivers PDP presidential campaign spokesperson said the decision by Wike to speak through subordinates is not a mark of a true leader.

According to him, Wike decided to go through that route so that if things don’t go right at the election, the blame won’t be put directly on him.

He made the submission when asked to confirm his claim that Wike has directed Rivers State people to work for Tinubu.

“We all live and work in Rivers State and the party is our party. The people they invited for the meeting were party men. They came back and reported that they were told to vote for Tinubu.

“The fact that Governor Wike is not courageous enough to stand and pronounce this and is giving this duty to his lieutenants also tells you that he wants them to bear the blame and not himself.

“That is not the quality of a good leader. A good leader should be able to stand up courageously and tell the people, this is where we are heading, whether good or bad, those that want to work with him will work with him.

“We are calling on him again to keep to his words. He told Nigerians that in January he was going to name his preferred candidate and that he would campaign for the candidate in the 36 states of the federation. It was all over the news platforms. Up till today, Governor Wike has not had the guts to tell the people clearly who he wants them to vote for. This again tells on his integrity,” Nwibubasa submitted.