Wike contacted me 19 times in two hours to beg me to support him as Atiku's running mate–Melaye

According to former senator Dino Melaye, Nyesom Wike who is the current governor of the state of Rivers, lobbied to be Atiku Abubakar's running mate in the PDP presidential primary (PDP).

Melaye asserted in a Wednesday interview with Arise TV that Wike called him 19 times in just two hours to urge him to support Atiku as his running mate.

Wike initially sought the PDP presidential nomination for the election on February 25 but lost out to Atiku, who later chose Delta state governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

On Tuesday, Wike claimed that Melaye, a candidate for the PDP's governorship ticket in Kogi, lacked the necessary qualifications.

"Nigerians should not be fooled. That integrity and equity that he (Wike) is always clamouring, he does not possess one per cent of it. He will tell you he wants a southern presidency, that is why he is fighting but that is a bogus lie,” Melaye said.

“Wike wanted to be vice-presidential candidate to Atiku. He (Wike) called me 19 times in two hours when Atiku was going to mention his vice-presidential candidate, lobbying me with everything possible to influence Atiku to announce him as his running mate.  I have witnesses.”

Wike, according to Melaye, opposed him because he didn't support his "myopic" presidential ambition.

"Wike was my biggest supporter; he was my biggest fan to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. He did not just support my primaries, he provided his private jet to drop me in Kogi on the day of the primary election and called me repeatedly thereafter,” he added.

“That means Wike saw something in me in 2019 for supporting me. He knew I was a gubernatorial material and fit to be governor, hence his investment and support as the case may be.

“So, what now happened between 2019 and 2023 that he is now saying I am not fit to be a governor — somebody you supported materially and otherwise. But suddenly because I am not a bootlicker, and the fact that I refused to participate in your very myopic and intellectually stagnant presidential ambition, you now see me as someone that is not fit and start using foul languages on my person.”