>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has returned to Nigeria.
The former vice president had on Monday left the country hours after he met Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
There were reports that the PDP candidate left the country to seek medical attention in France, but his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, denied this, saying Atiku went on a business trip.
In the past few days, the crises in the main opposition party have deepened, especially the stance of Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp that Senator Iyorchia Ayu must resign as the PDP chairman.
While Atiku was abroad, Wike endorsed his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, an action seen as a blow to the party, which fielded Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor as the PDP governorship candidate in the state.
Also, the PDP National Woman Leader, Prof.Professor Stella Effah-Attoe, accused “some distracting elements” in the party of undermining and sidelining her.