PDP Primaries: Wike yet to congratulate Atiku despite his vow to support winner

Despite his promise to support whoever wins the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primaries, Governor Nyesom Wike has yet to congratulate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who won the primary election.

Atiku who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential election clinched the party’s ticket again on Saturday, May 28, 2022, following the party’s convention held at Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Atiku contested the election against Wike, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and 10 other aspirants.

But a few minutes before delegates were about to start casting their votes, Tambuwal withdrew from the primary election and endorsed Atiku.

However, while Saraki had congratulated Atiku on Twitter shortly after the former VP emerged as the winner of the election, Wike, who promised to support any aspirant that wins the election has yet to send a congratulatory message to the winner hours after the convention.

While addressing the delegates, Wike had vowed to support any aspirant that emerge as the winner of the election because he is a committed PDP member who loves the party.

“Let me vow, today, anybody who emerges here, I will support the person to the fullest because I am a committed party person, because I love this party, because, since 1998, I have been in this party and worked for this party, I am not going anywhere, This is my party.” the governor had said.

But several hours after the end of the convention, Wike kept mum and has yet to congratulate Atiku, whom he believes is not committed to the party.

Recall that during his consultations and meetings with party members across the country, Wike frequently took a swipe at Atiku over his defection from the PDP to the APC in 2014.

Wike predicated his consultations and campaign on the claim that he is loyal to the party, unlike Saraki and Atiku who left the party and later returned to use the party's platform to vie for president.

He believes Atiku and Saraki do not deserve to represent the PDP as presidential candidates in the 2023 election.

Meanwhile, the National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is one of the frontline presidential aspirants for the APC has congratulated Atiku on his victory.

Tinubu in a statement on Saturday commended Atiku for his unwavering patriotism and commitment to Nigeria’s progress.

The former governor of Lagos State noted that the former Vice President will be a worthy opponent to him in the coming 2023 presidential election, if by the grace of God and the support of APC delegates, he gets his party’s ticket.