It appears to be lights out for the teeming Nigerians who are eagerly waiting for a formidable opponent that could offer fresh ideas to the country’s problems, that have largely remained unsolved in the last four year, and also give Buhari a vigorous run for the money in the coming Presidential election. Because according to reports, ahead of Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary billed to hold tomorrow, it emerged on Friday that an unholy plot has been perfected by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike to rig the election.
Indications to this effect became too clear on Friday evening with a coordinated muzzling of party faithful and delegates to vote for the Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal purely to massage the ego of the Governor to the detriment of the party and the country.
Tambuwal, it was gathered, will eventually pick the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose as running mate for the 2019 elections.
By the scheming heavily financed by Wike and “allied forces”, including a number of other PDP governors, Wike will also take over from Fayose in 2023 as Tambuwal’s running mate if they could succeed at the polls.
Analysts and party faithful following the development in Port Harcourt, venue of the PDP convention where a presidential candidate will emerge tomorrow, claimed the new turn of events had actually been revealed by Thisday columnist, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, in her column on October 1.
They were insistent that the plot had been in the offing for a while, noting that this was behind Wike’s threat to his colleagues over their disenchantment with the choice of Port Harcourt for the presidential primary.
Already the open manipulation is enjoying frenzy at the various abode of delegates as they are being told to vote for Tambuwal in a manner akin to intimidation, subterfuge, bribing and expected outright rigging at the convention proper tomorrow using “different methods”.
“Expect the unexpected at the venue tomorrow. Wike and his co-travelers are certainly working for their selfish interest and not the party’s ambition to win next year, a top party leader said last night.
It was gathered Friday night that the convention was likely to end in controversy as some presidential aspirants were said to be mobilizing for a showdown over the rigging claim.
“Wike has perfected plans to rig the election in favour of Tambuwal by deploying huge resources to the delegates and party leaders to do his bidding and the choice of Port Harcourt as venue is a strategic advantage in this direction. Delegates are being railroaded to vote Tambuwal but how this will end remains to be seen,” a party chieftain from Edo State who requested for anonymity also stated last night.
Yet the consensus of opinions of PDP members on Friday pointed to a failed scheme in the end as many party faithful in Port Harcourt believe rigging the election can only pave the way for a “smooth ride” for President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection since “he will easily defeat the Tambuwal/Fayose ticket at the presidential election in February”.
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz
