Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) presidential candidate, asserted that Peter Obi, a former member of the Labour Party, defected to the main opposition group as a result of Nyesom Wike's repeated insults.

In Abuja on Wednesday, Atiku spoke via Phrank Shaibu, his Special Assistant on Public Communications, and expressed his disappointment that Wike had been able to trick his fellow G-5 members into choosing "political suicide" by siding with the PDP.

He claimed that Wike tricked the governors of Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, and Benue, Samuel Ortom, into supporting his actions.

Shaibu’s statement was in response to a statement by the Rivers State Government, where it warned Atiku to “caution his attack dogs”.

In response, Shaibu said, “As governor, he [Wike] constantly undermined his colleagues, notably Governors Ben Ayade, Dave Umahi, and Godwin Obaseki. Ayade and Umahi eventually left out of frustration.

“Even Peter Obi left due to the constant insults from Wike, who battled with him over the structure of the PDP in Anambra State."

“In his most recent act of desperation, he deceived four of his colleague governors to reject the PDP, thereby pushing them into political suicide.”

“Governor Wike’s claim that he opposed Atiku for the sake of fairness is like a prostitute claiming to be in business in order to feed the poor,” he added.