2023: Wike gives condition for withdrawing from presidential race

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has given a condition that will make him withdraw from next year’s presidential race.

Mr Wike at the weekend declared interest in the race while attacking returnees that left the party during the 2015 presidential election which it lost.

The governor said he has what is required to oust the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) from power at the center.

Appearing on Channels TV on Monday, the outgoing governor said he will shelve his ambition should his party zone it to the North.

He kicked against requests in some quarters that the party should not zone its ticket but throw it open to all aspirants regardless of where they hail from, a sharp contrast from the demand of the Southern Governors Forum (SGF) which insists on power returning to the South.

“I will not run,” Mr Wike answered when asked what he will do should the ticket be zoned to the North. “I will obey the party, but what I don’t agree with is for people to say that there should not be zoning.”

“For me, that is why I have never left this party since 1998. Every decision must not be good to you. What is important as a party person is I believe in the party.

“The party has given me everything. I won’t because of the decision leave the party. I won’t do that.

“It is your belief in the party. I have no other place; I have no other party to go to. I cannot leave my party.

“I am a very sincere person. There is nothing that can make me, because of power, violate simple agreement — whether it is written or unwritten; that makes you a gentleman,” he said.

“Just as I am today, if the party says they are zoning it to the north, I have no problem,” he added.