It seems the ongoing crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is nowhere near an end, with the party’s vice presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Monday, reportedly avoiding Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Okowa was said to have arrived at the Makurdi airport in the company of some members of the PDP Campaign Council on their way to Lafia, Nasarawa State, for a campaign rally.
According to a top government official who spoke with newsmen (not Quest Times), Benue Governor Samuel Ortom had gone to the Makurdi airport to receive Wike who was billed to commission a project in the State.
Coincidentally, Okowa and Ortom met and exchanged pleasantries at the airport.
“When Governor Ortom arrived at the airport, he met Governor Okowa who had just landed in Makurdi.
“The two Governors exchanged banters and Okowa told Ortom that he and others were waiting for the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar whose flight was being expected to land anytime soon.
“That was when Governor Ortom pointed it out to Okowa that it was against protocol for the Delta Governor and Atiku to enter his State without the courtesy of informing him.
“While the two Governors were still discussing, another aircraft carrying Governor Wike arrived and Governor Ortom left for the tarmac to receive the Rivers Governor.
“Governor Okowa who was in one of the cars parked at the airport waiting for Atiku’s arrival, did not come out to exchange greetings with Governor Wike, even though he saw him coming out of the airport with Governor Ortom.
“It was apparent that Okowa deliberately avoided Wike for whatever reasons,” the source disclosed.
Quest Times understands that Wike’s integrity group (PDP G5) and Atiku’s camp have been at loggerheads following the internal wranglings in the opposition party.