10th NASS: Atiku, Wike Reignite Feud, Clash Over House of Reps Leadership Roles

• The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be up for another chapter of the rivalry between Atiku Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State
• Both men have been in a heated feud since the build-up to the just concluded 2023 general election
• It was gathered that Atiku and Wike are rooting for different candidates for the minority leader position in the House of Representatives

FCT, Abuja - An emerging report has confirmed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State have reignited their long-standing feud.

Recall that both men were in a heated battle over the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.

The feud led to the Rivers state governor splitting the PDP into factions, thereby distorting the chances and hopes of the party at the general elections.

Read also

Big blow for PDP as House of Reps candidate, party leaders, thousands of supporters defect to APC

Governor Wike set up his faction known as the G-5, which had four powerful PDP governors as its members.

Wike and the governors had appealed to Atiku, the party's presidential flagbearer, to change the party's national leadership because they were both from the same region.

The G-5 governors saw Atiku's non-compliance as an imbalance and insisted that the party needed to apply the tenets of inclusivity and fairness to other regions.

On the other hand, Atiku declined any attempts to reach a peaceful resolution with Governor Wike.

Atiku, Wike open new chapter of heated feud

Meanwhile, both men are reported to have opened a new chapter of their feud over the minority leader position of the incoming 10th House of Representatives.

As reported by Leadership Newspaper, it was confirmed that both men are rooting for different candidates, which has divided the PDP members in the green chamber.

Read also

Speakership: G7 lawmakers-elect intensify strategy to upstage Tinubu's anointed

It was gathered that two members-elect of the House of Reps, Hon Oluwole Oke, who represents Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State and his colleague from Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, are both in contention for the role of the minority leader of the house.

Reports have that Hon Oke is getting the backing of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar while Hon Chinda is in the good books of Governor Nyesom Wike.

Chinda, who is the anointed candidate of Governor Wike, is reported to have vied for the same slot in the 9th assembly but lost to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s candidate Hon Ndudi Elumelu from Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State.

Currently, PDP lawmakers in the lower chamber have been divided into two factions: the “Greater Minority” led by Hon Oke and the “Minority Apex” led by Hon Chinda.

It is still being determined how the event will unfold as we countdown to Tuesday, June 13, when the lawmakers will be inaugurated.

Read also

Speakership: APC faction to present consensus candidate as plot to upstage Tinubu's anointed begins

But would Governor Wike get another one against his archrival Atiku?

“Your days in PDP are numbered,” Atiku Abubakar tells Wike

Earlier in March, Atiku Abubakar said the days of Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are numbered.

Going further, the presidential candidate accused Wike of misleading some of his fellow governors to make political mistakes.

Going further, Atiku claimed Wike had lost relevance outside Rivers state and had become nothing but a bull in a China shop.

Source: Legit.ng