A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and veteran journalist, Dele Momodu has revisited the events surrounding the 2022 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s flagbearer for the 2023 general election.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Momodu reacted to claims that financial strength often determines outcomes of party primaries in Nigeria, using the PDP contest between Atiku and former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike as a key example.
According to Momodu, Wike entered the primary with significant financial advantage but still failed to secure the party’s ticket, suggesting that money alone does not always guarantee victory in internal party elections.
“Wike was by far richer than Atiku Abubakar in that primary, he still didn’t win,” Momodu said.
He explained that despite Wike’s immense resources and influence as a sitting governor at the time, the PDP primary was shaped by broader political calculations, including alliances, zoning sentiments, and delegate preferences across states. Momodu argued that Atiku’s long-standing presence in national politics and his deep-rooted relationships within the party structure played a crucial role in his emergence as the candidate.
The ADC chieftain noted that the outcome of the PDP primary contradicted the popular belief that the highest spender always prevails in Nigerian politics. He maintained that while money remains an important factor, it does not automatically override party dynamics and strategic consensus among stakeholders.
Momodu also linked the primary election to the political fallout that followed, including the prolonged rift between Wike and the PDP leadership, which later contributed to internal divisions within the party during the 2023 general election.
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