The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has said the leadership of the party is taking action to address the grievances of all the PDP members.

Atiku stressed that every governor, legislator, and other officials elected on the platform of the party “are much loved and respected by me”.

He made this known via a string of tweets on his verified Twitter handle on Thursday.

He wrote: “The @OfficialPDPNig will remain united. Focus on our actions. We are taking action to address the feelings of all party members.

“The unity in our community is my priority. Our resolve to unify Nigeria starts in our party and moves to the community, then on to society.

“Every Governor, Legislator, and other elected officials produced by our party, and party members and loyalists, are much loved and respected by me

“When they speak, I listen. I do not only listen. Appropriate actions have been taken, are being taken, and will continue to be advanced,” the PDP standard-bearer stated.

This is coming amidst the crisis rocking the main opposition party ahead of the 2023 general election.

On Wednesday, the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, said he has not received direction from God to support Atiku for the 2023 presidential election.

This was just as the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, said the Southern part of the country must produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023.

Ortom, while speaking in an interview on Arise TV, also said he had expected Atiku to choose Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as his running mate instead of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

The governor added that the PDP presidential flag bearer chose Okowa, contrary to the selection of Wike as the party’s vice presidential candidate.

Ortom said he was not in support of dumping Wike for Okowa in choosing Atiku’s running mate ahead of the 2023 general election.

“I am praying. I have gone into hibernation. I am fasting and praying. So in the end, if God directs me that I should support Atiku, why should I not do it? After all, he’s my party member.

“But I am waiting for him (Atiku) to do more. I expect him to reach out to Wike, who came second in the presidential primary.

“The man he denied the popular view of the PDP members — 14 out of 17 — who said Wike should be the vice-presidential candidate. I expect more explanation.

READ ALSO: Fayose dumps Atiku, says South must produce Buhari’s successor

“I expect him to talk to Wike, whom we are supporting first. I expect him to reach out to some of us so that together we can work as a party,” Governor Ortom had said.

The Star recalls that Wike contested and lost the PDP presidential ticket to Atiku.

Atiku polled 371 to defeat Wike, who garnered 237 votes.

The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) later nominated three names that included Okowa, Wike, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, to Atiku for the party’s vice presidential candidate.

The Star