Three Peoples Democratic Party’s governors – Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Samuel Ortom (Benue) stayed away from the inauguration of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council and book launch in honour of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
So also were those of Enugu and Abia state – Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu.
The Wike group have since been calling for the resignation of the party’s Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, for being a northerner like Abubakar.
Ortom had, however, denied wanting Ayu removed, in a statement issues by one of his aides on Tuesday.
But Ayu too was absent, according to the Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, who said it as a result of ill-health.
Other PDP governors believed to be loyal to the party’s presidential candidate were, however, in attendance.
They include: Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; Diri Duoye of Bayelsa State; Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State; Darius Ishaku of Taraba State; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State; and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
The Delta State governor and running mate to Atiku, Ifeanyi Okowa, was also present at the event.
