Tinubu to reward Wike with Ministerial appointment -- Atiku's aide

Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communication to former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, has made a serious allegation against President Bola Tinubu.

According to Shaibu, Tinubu is allegedly planning to reward the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, with a ministerial appointment as a token of appreciation for rigging the presidential election in Rivers State in favor of Tinubu.

In a statement signed by Shaibu, he expressed his belief that the results in states like Rivers clearly indicated that the last presidential election was far from credible. He went on to criticize Tinubu for considering a ministerial portfolio for Wike, despite the pending petition against the former governor, which has garnered nearly 300,000 votes.

Shaibu highlighted that the presidential election in Rivers State was marred by rigging, citing evidence from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) upload on the Integrated Electoral Management System (IREV). He also mentioned that a petition on change.org demanding visa bans against Governor Wike has received significant support from around 300,000 Nigerians.

The statement concluded by expressing Shaibu’s astonishment that Tinubu would consider appointing Wike as a minister as a reward for what he described as a disgraceful election. He questioned Tinubu’s credibility, especially considering his claim to have fought for the actualization of June 12, referring to the historical significance of Nigeria’s democracy.

It is important to note that these allegations are made by an aide to Atiku Abubakar and have not been independently verified or confirmed by other sources. However, they highlight the ongoing political tensions and controversies surrounding the presidential election and the aspirations of various political figures in Nigeria.