‘How ex-president, heads of state, generals secured victory for Atiku’
Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate following interventions by some powerful interests, a report has claimed.
The powerful interests reportedly included a former president, former heads of state, and military generals.
Others involved are former northern governors, PDP chieftains from the north and a former intelligence chief.
“The power brokers were alarmed by information and conclusive analyses before the PDP Special National Convention began that (governor) Wike could spend his way to nomination”, said the report by PREMIUM TIMES.
“They decided that the guy had to be stopped,” the reported quoted its source as saying.
“They do not see Wike as a presidential material, they believe he would totally run amok as president,” the source added.
The powerful interests were said to have pressured Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal into withdrawing from the race to endorse Atiku.
An aide to Tambuwal quoted anonymously in the report allegedly said: “Oga (Tambuwal) said he had never been under so much pressure before in his life. They told him that the fate of the party depended on whatever decision Oga took.
“They also said the APC was working for Wike behind the scene because they believe he would be easy to defeat at the general election,” the aide of the governor said.
The report said had Tambuwal not stepped down, he would have divided the votes from the north, thereby paving the way for Wike to clinch the presidential ticket.
Wike reportedly left the venue of the primaries when he realised his imminent loss.
