By: Atanda Yakubu Adedeji
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has expressed his support for Tajudeen Abbas, the anointed speakership candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Wike, a member of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made this pledge during a meeting with Mr. Abbas and the Joint Task Group in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike emphasized his commitment to preventing a repeat of the 2015 scenario, where members from the ruling party collaborated with minority parties to elect the leadership of the National Assembly. He assured Mr. Abbas and the APC leadership that he would actively campaign for their candidate after leaving office as governor.
“I want to say here that I am with you fully. You know I do my things in the open. When (Kingsley) Chinda told me that you are coming here, I said there was no need because I am with you fully. All our members are with you, except one, who is doing something else.
“2015 won’t repeat itself. Let me tell you, I’ll leave the office on Monday, and once I leave, we will start the campaign fully.
“I urge all of you to support Abbas. Don’t support him in the day and do something else in the night. You should support him fully,” he said.
Governor Wike’s support for Mr. Abbas comes in the context of his opposition to his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the previous presidential primary. He, along with other PDP governors, formed the G5 group that opposed Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy.
Governor Wike has previously acknowledged his support for Mr. Tinubu during the presidential election and has consistently advocated for adherence to the ruling party’s zoning arrangement among all aspirants.
