Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful, says south-east delegates were not united prior to the party’s presidential primary election.
Recall that Atiku was declared winner of the presidential primary election at the national convention of the opposition party on Saturday.
The former vice-president polled 371 votes to clinch the ticket to represent the PDP in the 2023 presidential election, while Wike, his closest challenger, secured 237 votes.
Ohuabunw who spoke on the development on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, said most of the south-east delegates voted for non-south-east hopefuls.
The former chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), said the actions of south-east leaders created confusion amongst the party leaders.
He said the party’s decision to leave the presidential ticket open was because south-east leaders were disunited and were supporting other hopefuls who are not from their zone.
“Despite all that we said the south-east didn’t show unity in the primary election,” he said.
“Most of the south-east delegates voted for non south-east people and that created more confusion. 
“Even before this case was fought, some of our south-east leaders were already supporting other candidates who are not from the zone. 
“And this even confused the party people who couldn’t decide whether to give this to the south-east or not. They don’t seem to be united. The party thought, ‘if their leaders are already rooting for other people, what should we do?’ So I think that must have affected the party from taking a final decision.”