Wike, Atiku Clash at House of Reps following Wike's Candidate Emergence as Minority Leader | #NwokeukwuMascot

Politics

Nyesom Wike | Atiku Abubakar

The immediate past governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike has again clashed with former Vice President and the People’s Democratic Party PDP presidential candidate in the February 25 Presidential Election, Atiku Abubakar as the supremacy battle between the duo climaxed yesterday over minority Leadership of the 10th House of Representatives, newsmen has learned.

According to the Leadership Newspaper, Wike’s anointed aspirant Honourable Kingsley Chinda representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State emerged minority leader of the House, trashing Atiku’s anointee.

Wike’s favourite reportedly emerged through a consensus during a meeting of the PDP minority caucus at a prestigious hotel in Abuja yesterday.

According to Leadership Newspaper, Atiku’s choice, Hon. Oluwole Oke, was compelled by the prevailing circumstances at the meeting to pull out of the race.

Wike had favoured Chinda, against Oke, representing Obokun/Oriade federal constituency of Osun State, who was projected by the former vice president.

The caucus unanimously endorsed Chinda, a development, which compelled Oke to step down. 

Also yesterday, a member of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Labour Party, Hon. George Ibezimako Ozodinobi, emerged as the deputy minority leader of the House.

At the meeting of LP’s minority caucus held at the National Assembly complex, Ozodinobi, who represents Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunakofia Federal Constituency of Anambra State, also emerged through consensus.

His arch-rival for the position, who is also LP’s minority caucus leader, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, was also forced to step down following the unanimous endorsement of Ozodinobi by his colleagues.

According to Leadership, the aspiration of Ogene, who represents Ogbaru federal constituency, crashed in the wake of the overwhelming popularity of Ozodinobi, who hails from the same constituency with the LP presidential candidate in the February 25 election, Peter Obi.

Atiku and Wike had in the aftermath of the general elections returned to the trenches over the minority leadership seat of the House of Representatives.

The two PDP leaders, it was gathered, left no stone unturned in the plot to outwit each other in the countdown to the inauguration of the 10th Assembly.

Findings by this paper revealed that the duo mobilised members of the Green Chamber on the platform of the PDP and other opposition parties in a bid to gain advantage.

Wike had engaged in relentless hostilities with Atiku ahead of the February presidential poll, leading four of his colleagues under the aegis of G5-Governors to work against the presidential bid of Atiku in the poll.

IgbereTV recalls that Chinda, who was projected for the same job in the 9th Assembly, lost as his principal was outwitted by his colleagues led by former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Okowa supported Hon Ndudi Elumelu from Aniocha/Oshimili federal constituency of Delta State, who eventually won the slot.

Already, Leadership Newspaper Friday confirmed that Chinda and Ozodinobi’s names have been forwarded to the leadership of the House of Representatives.

Specifically, it was gathered that Chinda and Ozodinobi were presented to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass by the leadership of the minority caucus on Thursday.

“Meetings of the two major minority caucuses – PDP and LP – were held at different venues in Abuja yesterday (Thursday) where the Reps’ Minority Leader and Deputy Minority Leader were elected through consensus.