Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, September 23, 2022 revealed that the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, wooed him to join the ruling party with a senatorial ticket.
He said the former Lagos State governor offered him the ticket after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate; Atiku Abubakar, failed to fulfill his promise after he emerged as the party’s presidential flagbearer.
However, he said he turned down the offer and insisted that he would remain in the main opposition party; despite his grievances, adding that he never contested the primary to settle for a vice-presidential or senatorial ticket.
Wike
“I didn’t contest so I can become a vice presidential candidate. I am not like others who were not serious and bought senatorial form alongside presidential form…That’s why when Tinubu offered me senate slot, I didn’t go for it,’’ Wike said.
He disclosed this during Friday’s media parley in Port Harcourt.
On July 8, 2022, some governors elected under the platform of APC met with Wike in Port Harcourt; the Rivers State capital ahead of the 2023 elections.
The governors include Kayode Fayemi; Rotimi Akeredolu and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Ekiti, Ondo, and Lagos States respectively.
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Others in their entourage include the Ekiti State Governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji; former Ekiti State governor and Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Ayodele Fayose, among others.
Before the APC governors’ visit, there had been reports that the APC candidate, Bola Tinubu, and Wike met in France. The reports were, however, debunked by the former Lagos State governor’s media aide, Tunde Rahman, who described them as “fake news”.
However, it was reported that the APC governors may have banked on the fallout of Wike with PDP leadership after the main opposition party’s presidential primary to woo the Rivers governor to their side ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
