A former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairman, Abubakar Baraje, has claimed that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is a crucial member of the party.
Baraje declared Wike a leader in the PDP.
He spoke against the backdrop of Wike’s face-off with PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over the choice of the party’s running mate.
Wike has been aggrieved with Atiku and PDP leaders over the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as the party’s presidential running mate.
The governor had met with some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, believed to be “men” of the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu.
A few days ago, Wike had invited Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to Commission a flyover in Port Harcourt.
Against the backdrop of these actions, some Nigerians believe Wike may dump the opposition party.
However, Baraje defended Wike, stressing that he has not engaged in any anti-party affair.
Speaking with Arise News, Baraje said: “One of the resolutions of PDP’s BoT was for Atiku to meet with Wike, and they have met; another meeting may come up.
“Until Wike declares that he is no longer a member of PDP, as far as PDP is concerned, he is not just an ordinary member but a leader of our party, a governor of our party.
“As far as we are concerned, Wike has not done anything that is anti-party; he is still behaving within the law. He has not done anything that goes against the rules and regulations of PDP.
“We are still meeting with Wike, and we believe that soon all the hullabaloo will be over.”