Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu of compromising the integrity of the convention that produced former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, as the presidential candidate of the party.
He said Ayu used his position to intimidate other aspirants, mounting pressure on them to withdraw from the race and support Atiku.
Wike said Ayu insisted that if they failed to withdraw from the race, he (Wike) would win the primary adding that the chairman held various meetings prior to the primary to convince aspirants to support Atiku.
He said: “A whole chairman of a party, who is supposed to be the umpire, was threatening people to withdraw. He threatened that if Wike wins he would resign. He kept calling people that if they refused to withdraw that Wike was going to win.
“He was holding various meetings and mounting pressure on people to resign. He was supposed to be the umpire. We didn’t want the party to go to court and we kept telling him to do the right thing. He was working for a particular candidate. There was nothing Ayu didn’t do to ensure that Wike failed.
“I spoke last based on alphabetical order. When I came out to speak, there was danger. The applause was much. Everybody had spoken and we sat down to commence voting but a whole chairman of the planning committee announced that there was an announcement.
“He gave back the microphone to Tambuwal. He said he wanted to withdraw but he went ahead to say people should vote for Atiku. If not for the love of the party, that convention would have ended up in crisis.
“I would have said, that this convention will not take place. Ayu described Tambuwal, as the hero of the convention. I never ran presidential election to want to be the vice-president”.
Ayu said the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu collected N1 billion during the party’s presidential primary to ensure Atiku Abubakar emerged winner of the party’s ticket.
Specificall, he said Ayu collected the money to manipulate the primary election in Atiku’s favour.
Wike said Ayu was calling Atiku’s fellow aspirants to withdraw from the race saying he and the former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and others were present.
“He manipulated the delegates. There was nothing Ayu did not do to ensure Wike didn’t emerge. Ayu is corrupt. Quote me. I am a lawyer and I am the governor of Rivers State. Ayu collected N1 billion in Lagos.
“He told one of the PDP presidential aspirants before the primary that the governors were not ready to fund the party. “I know how the money was arranged and those involved in packaging the money. He collected N1 billion. Let him come out to tell Nigerians it is not true and I will reveal more,” he stated.
Wike also said the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu wooed him to join the ruling party with a senatorial ticket, which he turned down.
“I didn’t contest so I can become a vice presidential candidate, I am not like others who were not serious and bought senatorial form alongside presidential form and that’s why when Tinubu offered me senate slot, I didn’t go for it,’’ he said.
The governor said aside Tinubu, he was approached by other political parties, including Labour Party as they all knew his worth.