The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has finally permitted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt for its presidential campaign rally slated for February 11.
This is a major turn after the state government, on January 31 withdrawn the initial approval given to the PDP presidential campaign council over its alleged plan to share the facility with a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Tonye Cole.
The governor however confirmed the new approval during the Rivers PDP campaign rally in the Ogu/Bolo local government area of the state on Tuesday.
He said the state government reconsidered its decision on the use of the venue after pleas by prominent people in the state and beyond.
The Governor also described as false, a claim by Ayu that a member of the G-5 had visited him in a bid to find his way back to the party.
Wike and four other governors – Samuel Ortom (Benue State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State) – had boycotted the PDP presidential campaigns since September last year to press home their demand for the resignation of the party National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
They had listed Ayu’s resignation from the position as a pre-condition for the support of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in this month’s election.
