Rivers governor Nyesom Wike disclosed that Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party were some of the entities wooing him to support them ahead of the 2023 elections. 

Speaking at a special media briefing on Friday, Mr Wike revealed that the APC flag bearer was offering him a senatorial ticket to join his party.

Mr Wike, a PDP chieftain, has been in conflict with Atiku Abubakar, his party’s presidential candidate since he lost the ticket to the latter. 

He has insisted that the PDP national chairman Iyorchia Ayu must be removed from office from a southern candidate for the sake of inclusivity in the party since Messrs Atiku and Ayu are both northerners.

The Rivers governor says other parties know his political value but he is not ready to leave the party despite his grievances.

“And that’s why when Tinubu offered me a senate slot, I didn’t go for it,” he said.

He further noted, “Aside from Tinubu, who is from the APC, other political parties are talking to me as well including Labour Party because they all know my worth and how I can ensure that they win the 2023 poll.” 

In July; governor Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) among others met with Wike in his country-home in Port Harcourt to confer with him. The outcome of the meeting was however not made public.

Mr Wike also mentioned that he partook in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential election not because he wanted to be a running-mate to Atiku Abubakar, who is now the flag bearer of the party. 

The opposition party’s primary was held on May 28, 2020, with Mr Abubakar emerging as its presidential candidate. 

Mr Abubakar polled 371 out of the 767 accredited votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Wike scored 237 votes during the presidential primary. 

Mr Wike said he refused to join the bandwagon, who participated in the primary election and still went ahead to get a placeholder for a ticket of senatorial ambition. 

“I didn’t contest so I can become a vice presidential candidate, I am not like others who were not serious and bought senatorial form alongside presidential form,” the Rivers governor said.