Atiku, Wike to commence reconciliation talks Friday

Representatives of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and that of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, are billed to meet on Friday for reconciliation.

It was gathered that teams of the PDP chieftains have not finalised on the venue of the meeting with Wike’s favouring Port Harcourt while Atiku’s loyalists settled for Abuja.

A member of Wike’s team, who spoke in confidence, said the meeting failed to hold on Monday due to PDP event in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

The source, however, noted that the meeting has been rescheduled to hold on Friday in a bid to settle aggrieved members in the interest of the PDP.

“We were ready for the meeting but it was members from the Atiku camp that didn’t show up at the meeting venue. The members said they didn’t show up because they were busy receiving defectors from the All Progressives Congress in Yola.

“We were told that Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who should have led members of the reconciliation committee in Atiku’s camp to the meeting, was the chief host during the defection of APC members in Yola. But they have indicated interest to show up for the meeting on Friday,” the source said.

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The source added: “When members of Atiku’s reconciliation committee come to Rivers State for the meeting, they will be meeting members of Wike’s committee. Whatever agreement that we reach would be detailed in a report that would be submitted to both Atiku and Wike.

“After Atiku and Wike review the agreement and accept the conditions therein, another meeting involving Wike and Atiku will be held for the reconciliation to materialise in the interest of the party.”

A source in Atiku’s team claimed that members of the reconciliation panel have agreed to hold the meeting in Abuja.

“The meeting was earlier billed to hold on Monday but it was shelved due to disagreement on the choice of venue. But now, both parties have resolved that Abuja is where the parley should hold and they have agreed to meet this Friday,” the source added.

The Star had reported that the crisis between the duo of Atiku and Wike started after Atiku rejected the Rivers State Governor as vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 general election and picked the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, instead.

The party had set up a 14-man reconciliation panel to mend fences between Wike and Atiku, but the committee had yet to resolve the crisis.

The Star