Wike, Kwankwaso ‘secret’ meeting sparks wild commentary

Nigeria’s political space was thrown into a frenzy after a picture of a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike went viral.

The picture which was shared on the official Instagram handle of Dele Momodu, a presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has since generated mixed reactions.

While MyNigeria couldn’t verify the exact time and place the said picture was taken at the time of filing this report, it has since sparked controversy on the next move of Wike who many believe is aggrieved over his inability to land the vice presidential slot of the PDP.

Recall that the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar picked Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate ahead of the highly favoured Wike, who many believed had the potential to add more value to the party’s quest to clinch power in 2023. The unpopular decision, according to some party leaders, has brought discord while there are rumours and accusations that Okowa was singlehandedly chosen by the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, and Atiku.

The rumours were re-echoed by Afegbua, who said on Channels TV morning show Sunrise Daily that Ayu jettisoned the party structures and connived with the Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate of the party.

He said Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike was the obvious choice by all layers of the party’s selection process. He said that “after all deliberations, they put the issue into vote and Wike got 16 votes, Okowa got three votes.”

With former Kano State governor Kwankwaso in the market for a potential vice president to join his ticket in the NNPP, Governor Wike is regarded to be the ideal man to balance the ticket.

This comes at a time when the NNPP and LP are yet to cement their agreement on who lead both parties as the presidential candidate in 2023. With the NNPP dismissing reports that its presidential candidate has accepted to be the running mate to Peter Obi, it has left the conversation stale.

A potential breakdown in talks between the LP and the NNPP could give Wike an opportunity to wrestle power from the APC and the PDP. His popularity in the south and southeast will come in handle for Kwankwaso who will likely share the numbers in the northwest.

See some reactions below

@iamkingsx wrote: “PDP may never produce president in Nigeria anymore. After 2027 of APC presidency, I see NNPP, LP and other smaller groups like APGA and SDP verging to dethrone APC. It will mark the death of APC/PDP political hegemony in Nigeria.”

@layinka____x wrote: “Kwankwanso wants to scare Obi into taking VP position. Wike will humbly collect VP positiion at the end Kwankwaso will be the winner of this permutation except Wike stand strong with OB.”

@st.vics wrote: “Instead of him to team up with Peter Obi, he is rather plotting on how to get south-south votes via Wike… I know that Kwankwaso and Wike don’t like Atiku. You see all these scheming going on, they will end up favoring PO.”

@menthur79 wrote: “I was telling someone this morning! I saw this one coming, road to 2023 is going to be a spectacular movie”

@perez.ayokunle wrote: “How can all these yama yama people even win apc , apc is busy uniting, winning elections, holding welcoming parties, meanwhile these ones just dey post pictures dey stunt around lol TUEH! (thick spit)”

@iceprincezamani simply said: “Wow”

@ahunanya_hecares said: “Hope is not going to work??? Because Obi’s combo would have given the best result”

@godswillovee commented: “Wike will loose again and again”

@opeyemi_akinniyi said: “Permutations are going. Una go sell Nigeria one day.”

@oladipupo_27 wrote: “Omo this one pass EPL signing oooo”