With the appointment of two former Senate Presidents – Pius Ayim and Bukola Saraki as Special Advisers, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar may be looking beyond the support of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his allies.
Ayim and Saraki were among PDP chieftains named yesterday by Atiku in a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, as advisers. Saraki was named Special Envoy.
The appointment came on a day that Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom washed his hands off the travails of PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
A former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau – who had exited the party for the New Nigeria Peoples Party and returned months later – was also named a special adviser to Atiku.
Another former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and ex-lawmaker, Ehigie Uzamere, was also named as his special advisers.
The party’s former national chairman, Uche Secondus, was also appointed as Technical Adviser to the presidential candidate.
The new appointments were announced in a statement by Atiku’s media assistant, Paul Ibe. They are a part of the preparations for the campaigns, which are set to start on Wednesday.
He claimed that the hires, which are effective right away, are meant to fortify his presidential campaign team.
Atiku charged the appointees to “use their vast political experiences in ensuring that the PDP presidential campaign records resounding success in the 2023 election.”
Both previous senate presidents, Messrs. Saraki and Anyim, ran in the party’s primary election on May 28 but fell short against Atiku. Mr Anyim received 14 votes, while Mr Saraki received 70 votes and finished in a distant third.
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