Peter Obi’s Team Lobbied Me Intensely, But I Rejected Their Offer; Now They Are Fighting Me – Wike

Former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has publicly accused the camp of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, of retaliating against him for rejecting their alliance prior to the elections. Speaking in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike detailed the intense lobbying he received from Obi and his supporters, asserting that he ultimately decided against joining forces with them.

Wike revealed that he was approached numerous times by Obi’s team, who sought to persuade him to support their campaign. However, he expressed skepticism about Obi’s chances of success, stating, “Peter Obi’s group lobbied me so much. They cannot deny it. I said, ‘look, this one won’t fly.’ Rivers State will not vote for where it’s not going to fly.’”

Wike indicated that his refusal to ally with Obi has led to a strained relationship, suggesting that the Labour Party’s camp is now turning against him. “There’s also a gang up and I say, ‘look, enough is enough.’ They want to fight us back,” he stated, hinting at deeper political rivalries at play.

This latest development comes amidst allegations of electoral malpractices during the 2023 presidential election, including claims of vote rigging and manipulation of results in favor of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Reports also surfaced regarding the involvement of political thugs allegedly intimidating voters and engaging in vote-buying activities.

In the election results, all three major candidates—Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi—each won 12 states. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ultimately declared Tinubu the winner, citing that he received the highest total number of votes.