I Won’t step-down As Atiku’s Campaign Chairman – Udom Emmanuel

Udom Emmanuel,  Akwa Ibom State Governor, on Tuesday, said he won’t resign as the Chairman of Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential Campaign Council.

Udom said he is a loyal party man and won’t cave in to pressure from certain quarters for him to dump the 2023 presidential ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flag bearer (Atiku).

The governor, who spoke during the flag-off of the governorship campaign in Uyo, the state capital, described as false, reports (not by Channels Television) that he has turned his back on Atiku and his running mate and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa.

“I remain the chairman of the Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign. I am not going anywhere. They’ve seen that we are coasting home to victory, that is why they are bringing that (rumoured resignation),” Emmanuel said.

The Akwa Ibom governor is of the very few PDP governors still standing by Atiku in Southern Nigeria. Now known as the PDP G5, Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) have been consistent in their demand that Iyorchia Ayu step down as PDP national chairman as a precondition to campaign for Atiku ahead of the February presidential poll.

Makinde as well as a former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko; amongst other party chieftains in Wike’s camp had in September rejected their appointments as members of Atiku’s presidential council.

Wike and Emmanuel had contested the presidential ticket with Atiku at the PDP primary in May but the former Vice-President won.