The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has welcomed reports that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his allies are favourably disposed to the resolution of the issues with the PDP presidential candidate.
Atiku also expressed his commitment to a negotiation that would resolve all issues within the party and pave the way for a much stronger and united PDP.
A statement by Mazi Ibe, the Media Adviser to the former Vice President noted that never at any time of the differences that ensued had the doors been shut to Governor Wike and his allies.
The statement said, “He (Atiku) enjoins every leader of the party and their supporters irrespective of their leanings to be open-minded and support the process of resolution of the extant issues.”
The party has been clouded by rift among the Rivers State Governor, the national chairman Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, and Atiku.
The governor is demanding the national chairman’s resignation to correct the lopsidedness in the party’s leadership.
The governor and his allies claimed that the national chairman had from the onset of his inauguration pledged to resign from his position if a northern presidential candidate emerge.
The emergence of Atiku made the governor and his group to mount pressure on Ayu to resign as the national chairman, however, Senator Ayu renamed his pledge saying he was elected for a four year term.
This angered the governor and his group, resulting to several verbal attacks and shunning of party activities.
The party and the presidential candidate had set up teams of reconciliation where consultation, talks had been going on to resolve the internal party crisis.