Senator David Mark Is The Architect Of PDP Crisis
Rivers State governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike, Friday, revealed some of the reasons that ignited the endless crises that have engulfed Nigeria’s opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
According to him, former Senate President, Senator David Mark was the arrow head of the syndicate that obfuscated the process that led to the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, a development that led to the revolts by past and present leaders of the party.
The primary election which held on May 28, 2022, saw former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, emerged the presidential candidate with 371 votes.
Atiku polled 371 out of the 767 accredited votes to defeat his closest rival, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who polled 237 votes.
Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, came a distant third with 70 votes.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed 20 votes and Udom Emmanuel 38 votes.
Dele Momodu and Ayo Fayose, Charles Ugwu, and Chikwendu Kalu scored zero votes each, while Tarella Diana and Sam Ohuabunwa each received one vote each.
In the primary, Wike had expected to win on accounts of being a southerner in line with the spirit of equity which underlines a 2023 southern president given that the outgoing two-term President hails from the north.
But that was not to be.
Wike got further infuriated when he was not picked as a running mate to Atiku.
The governor, alongside other strong members of the party, have orchestrated a revolt calling on the national chairman of the Party, Senator Iyorcha Ayu to resign.
Throwing light on the primary election on Friday, Wike said Senator David Mark played a spoiler role.
He accused David Mark of working in favour of Atiku to emerge.
According to him, “ We have all spoken and addressed delegates. But the chairman of the primary election committee, Senator David Mark created room for Aminu Tambuwal, the governor of Sokoto State to speak. Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s singular privilege to speak and withdrew from the race was against the rule of play. David Mark did not allow any other person to speak. David Mark gave undue advantage to Atiku. We would have ensured the primary did not hold but for our love for the party ,” Wike narrated.
