Aggrieved Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Friday said Atiku Abubakar emerged the presidential as the Peoples Democratic Party because National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu manipulated the primary in his favour.
He said if not for the love he and others in his camp had for the main opposition party, they could have prevented the PDP convention from holding.
Wike said this at media parley in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He accused Ayu of playing a vital role that was detrimental to other aspirants in the emergence of Atiku as PDP flagbearer, saying the party chairman called several presidential aspirants to step down for the former vice president during the convention.
The governor said, “He was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku. I was there, Saraki and others were there.
“He manipulated the delegates. There was nothing Ayu did not do to ensure Wike didn’t emerge.
“Meetings upon meetings were going. Pressures were being mounted on people to step down.
“Even on the night of the convention meetings were going on. That is why we started our convention late.
“Some of the retired generals were involved. Some of the meetings were held in their houses. There is nothing they didn’t do for me to step down.
“Those who know me, know that I would have stopped the convention, even if heaven falls.”
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