The crisis between the southern members of the Peoples Democratic Party especially the group loyal to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and the presidential candidate of the party and the embattled National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayuhas hit the party financially.

A prominent member of the National Working Committee who preferred to be anonymous said many of the NWC members will not attend the Borno state rally because of scarcity of fund.

“You see, this people believe they are wise. They will take you to a rally, no food, even snacks, no water, as the campaign is ending, they rush you back to Abuja just for them to avoid paying for accommodation for members. The party right now is suffering from political epilepsy.

“Now, Campaign has not fully started, the party is seriously broke. All the people Atiku surrounded himself with should be able to finance the campaign. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Godwin Obaseki, Babangida Aliyu, Sule Lamido and others that are advising him should bring out the money.

The NWC member who said the party is heading for more trouble financially, narrated how Governor of Bauchi state has opening written a letter to the leadership of the party on how the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar is victimazing him for Daring to contest the presidential primary with him.

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He also said that Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State has reportedly threatened to resign as chairman of the Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) if campaign funds were not released.

But the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ini Ememobong when contacted said he was not aware of any such threat.

“The Governor is a gentleman and doesn’t issue threats, he discusses. He is a natural peace builder wherever he finds himself, so we know he is pursuing peace and reconciliation to help the party win’, he said.

In spite of the rebuttal, a close source revealed that Udom confided in some aides in his inner circle that he was exasperated with the inability of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to release funds for campaign in the state.

The source said despite the fact that the PDP is the ruling party in the state, the presidential candidate is not a favourite among residents, hence, the need for his campaign to commence in earnest.

“At the moment, our governor has said he would not be spending a dime of the state’s funds on the presidential campaign because we don’t even have more than enough resources for our national and state Assemblies campaigns. He has even said he would rather resign than appear incompetent. He wants to campaign for Atiku but his hands are tied because of lack of funds.

“At the moment, we are waiting for the candidate to release funds so that the party can start campaigning for him here but if he doesn’t do so, then we would just focus on our National Assembly and state candidates. It is not that the governor does not support him but the fact remains that we are our governorship campaign is our priority at the moment.

“If you go to the streets of Akwa Ibom and talk to people, you would see that Atiku is not popular among the top presidential contenders. Also, the fact that most of the billboards you see in Uyo are either for our national assembly and state candidates and the presidential candidates of other parties gives you an understanding of what is at stake.

“For instance, the supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party have sponsoring billboards and pasting posters of him all over the city but that of Atiku are few because funds haven’t been released. ”