Tinubu needs Rivers’ votes, not logistical support, says Umahi To Wike

The governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, has stated that the votes of the populace, not logistical support, are what Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate, needs from Rivers State.

Less than 48 hours after making the same promise to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike offered logistical help to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Monday.

On Tuesday, Umahi gave a speech during the opening of the Akpabu-Itu-Umudiogha-Egbeda Road in the Rivers State local government area of Emohua.

Speaking during the inauguration, Governor Wike related how PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar turned down the former president Goodluck Jonathan’s pleas for assistance in his 2015 campaign for reelection.

Wike gives the Rivers Assembly his N550.6 billion budget for 2023.

According to Wike, Jonathan went to the Dorchester Hotel in London in 2015 expecting to meet Atiku, but the former vice president “embarrassed” the former president and instructed him to give his ticket to him instead.

The governor clarified that he was not requesting that Atiku resign as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, but rather that he ensure Iyorchia Ayu’s ouster as PDP national chairman so that a southerner could succeed him in the interest of inclusivity.

“We forget history,” stated Wike. While Jonathan was elected president in 2015—I’m not talking about when he was running for office—after winning the primary, Jonathan traveled to London’s Dorchester Hotel and begged Atiku Abubakar to rejoin the party and support him.

“You are aware of the restriction Atiku placed on Jonathan? He ought to give up his bid to become the next president of Nigeria. That was a ruling party’s presidential hopeful. He set a requirement for him, instructing him to give up that ticket.

We don’t suggest that the presidential candidate give up his ticket today; rather, since you are now running for president, we suggest that our group assume the chairmanship.