In a meeting with the governor of Rivers State in Port Harcourt, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, is currently joined by Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Rotimi Akeredolu, two additional APC governors from the South West.
Since Wike was passed over for the Peoples Democratic Party presidential nomination as Atiku Abubakar's running mate, he has established connection with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC candidate, who is anticipated to arrive back from his activities in France today.
Since Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta State, was selected as the vice presidential candidate, PDP leaders, including Atiku himself, have been sending messengers to Wike. Wike is reportedly upset that Atiku chose Okowa over him even though he was the party's clear option.
Recall that Wike finished second in the PDP presidential primary held in Abuja in May. Since then, he has not hidden his disappointment in the party for breaking the terms of its own constitution, which permits zoning of the presidential ticket. Following President Buhari's term, governors from Southern Nigeria convened across party lines and decided that the country's next leader must be from the region.
According to sources, Gov. Fayemi travelled to Port Harcourt with his two other South West colleagues to persuade Wike to back Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in keeping with their belief that the next President should originate from the South.
Given that Wike and Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State and recently-retired minister of transportation who serves as the arrowhead of the APC in that region, have a no love lost relationship, it is unclear at this point what kind of agreement Fayemi and Akeredolu hope to reach with Wike.
The leaders from the region committed to mobilise for Tinubu and the APC to win the upcoming general elections during a meeting of the South South Caucus of the APC a few days ago.
Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, who is credited with organising support for Tinubu, is in Port Harcourt with Wike to welcome the APC Governors.
