Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, is set to ‘edge out’ former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, erstwhile Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and other contenders for the party’s ticket from the North.

Party sources reportedly a leading daily, Daily Trust, that Wike, who they described as the sole financier of the main opposition party, has reached out to many of his colleagues on this agenda.

Quoting “a source with knowledge of the permutations” the daily said the Rivers State governor ‘was all out’ to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the south.

Two sitting governors, members of the PDP, are said are interested in the opposition party’s presidential ticket. The likely touted candidates are Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed.

Also said to be interested in the ticket are former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State.

Saraki, according to reports, has been reaching out to stalwarts of the party ahead of his formal declaration for the presidency.

A close source said Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State, might soon declare for the presidential race.

Recall that Wike played a key role in the emergence of the Dr. Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after sacking the Uche Secondus-led executive.

The governors, who are believed to belong to the most influential power bloc, under the umbrella of the PDP Governors’ Forum, ensured the emergence of their candidates.

“Through the scheming and machinations of the 13 governors of the party, 18 out of the 21 positions were filled through consensus,” the source said.

Pundits also reported the governors may have taken over the soul of the main opposition party ahead of the 2023 politicking.

The 13 governors listed are; Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).

Last Monday, Wike hosted the PDP governors at the Government House, Port Harcourt, as part of what watchers of the political space said was a continuation of their efforts to shape the 2023 politicking.

The Port Harcourt meeting came after Wike’s recent visits to Bauchi, Adamawa, Sokoto, Abia, Enugu, Oyo, and Bayelsa states.

Wike’s visits to some of his counterparts was said to be intended to woo the governors in his bid to perfect the plot.

The source said the governor had also recruited five of his supportive colleagues into the project.

These are the governors Benue, Enugu, Oyo, Abia and Adamawa states.

“In his camp now, he has five governors. Nobody can challenge him now because he has been funding the party. Who has total control of the NWC of our party? It’s Wike,” the source said.

A former senator said the governors are working hard to ensure that one of them picks the party’s ticket.

“I want to be frank with you, nobody is talking about Atiku now because the governors said they don’t want him because he is above 70. They want someone who can relate well with them and has the energy to withstand the challenges bedeviling the country,” he said.

Mischief against Governor Wike’s war against soot

But while these schemings are on, Atiku and other contenders are continuing with consultation, with some of them said to be warming up to retire.

Atiku’s team leader, Raymond Dokpesi, the Chairman, DAAR Communications, has been leading the former vice president’s visits across the country to canvass support for his presidential ambition.

The Dokpesi-led team has visited many states across the country. During the committee’s visit to Anambra State on Saturday, Atiku was described as the only aspirant that can lead PDP to victory.

But contacted, Saraki’s media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said he has no comment on the matter.

Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe said they are not aware of the moves to edge out his boss.

He told Daily Trust that his boss enjoys the support of the Rivers State governor and other top shots.

“We are not aware of any such move. Atiku Abubakar enjoys the support of a good number of stakeholders in the PDP including Governor Wike. The focus of every stakeholder in the opposition party at this point is to rescue Nigeria and Nigerians from the claws of bad governance that the APC has thrown the country into.

“And like all patriots and stakeholders in the Nigeria Project, the priority of H.E Atiku Abubakar and indeed the PDP is to recruit eggheads who will come up with brilliant policy plans that can turn the current state of mass poverty, insecurity, divisions and hopelessness into prosperity and unity for Nigerians,” he said.