Atiku still enjoys southern support despite Wike’s opposition
The candidate of the major opposition party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, still enjoys lots of support from southern region despite the stiff opposition of Nyesom Wike.
The Rivers State governor has refused to let go the primary election, which he lost to the ex vice president. Mr. Wike has constituted a big threat to the ambition of Atiku Abubakar. Yet the PDP’s candidate still enjoys lots of support from the southern region of Nigeria.
The Osun State governor, Mr. Ademola Adeleke, is constantly loyal to the Adamawa-born politician. There is a nexus between the state governor and Atiku Abubakar. Little wonder Adeleke has not for once consider looking at Bola Tinubu’s side.
The whole of southwest seems to be behind the ex Lagos state governor, but Adeleke has ensured that he reserves Osun State for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. That state may end up being a walkover for the ex vice president on Saturday, 25 February.
Adeleke may be paying back Atiku for the support the former enjoyed when he was moving to win Osun State gubernatorial election. The presidential candidate of the PDP was available throughout the exercise till Adeleke coasted home victory.
Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Edo State governor, is also an ally of the ex vice president, Atiku. Obaseki’s stance is quite understandable. He has issues with the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.
For more than a year now, both Wike and Obaseki have been at loggerheads. That could be the reason the Edo State governor opted for Atiku Abubakar. Edo State has often been one of those southern states the PDP wins during the presidential election.
The Bayelsa state governor, Mr. Duoye Diri, has always attended rallies of the ex vice president. The Bayelsa state governor has refused to be part of the southern opposition against Atiku. Immediately after the primary election, he swiftly identified with the northern politician.
Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, the ex president, has maintained his silence over the election. As a top leader from Bayelsa state, it is not clear if he will break his neutrality before Saturday. But one thing is PDP has never lost Bayelsa state. Atiku may win it through Duoye Diri.
Delta state is as important as Rivers State when it comes to the presidential election. And interestingly, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa is ok ground to deliver the state for his principal, Atiku.
Atiku got a half a million votes in the 2019 presidential election. That happened even though he picked his running mate from Anambra State. Definitely, the votes would be far more now that his running mate is from Delta state.
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