Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, says Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), threatened to resign if he won the presidential primary election.
The governor said this during a media chat on Friday.
He said Ayu also asked other hopefuls to withdraw for Atiku Abubakar, the former vice-president.
“There was nothing Ayu didn’t do. Manipulation of delegates list,” he said.
“A whole national chairman threatened some of the presidential aspirants at that time that if Wike wins, he was going to resign.
“In fact, he was calling aspirants to withdraw for Atiku Abubakar.”
Wike had contested the PDP presidential primary election in May, but lost to Atiku.
Others hopefuls in the primaries were Bukola Saraki, former senate president; Bala Mohammed, Bauchi governor; Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom governor; Pius Anyim, Sam Ohuabunwa, Ayodele Fayose, and Dele Momodu.
Crisis hit the PDP after the primaries, with Wike demanding Ayu’s resignation as a condition to participate in the party’s presidential campaign.