Wike Tears PDP As Party Shifts NWC Meeting

The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagum, has postponed the party’s National Working Committee meeting until next week due to increasing tension between former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and the PDP Governors Forum, regarding the status of Rivers State party congresses.

Amid the lingering political crisis between Wike and the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the PDP governors had taken sides with Fubara, insisting that the governor should be recognised as the leader of the PDP in Rivers State.

The declaration by the governors had infuriated Wike, who warned them to stay out of Rivers matter or he would ‘put fire’ in their states.

Rreacting to the threat, the PDP Governors’ Forum slammed Wike, describing his threat as irresponsible.

They insisted that their position remained, reminding Wike that while he was Rivers governor, he enjoyed the same privilege as the party’s leader.

The PDP governors are demanding that the ward and local government congresses conducted in Rivers State, which gave the party’s structure to Wike, should be annulled and fresh ones conducted.

The PDP NWC meeting, which was expected to hold on Wednesday and would have provided an opportunity to further address the disagreements between Wike and the governors, did not, however, hold.

Despite a court injunction halting the PDP’s congresses in Rivers State, the Damagum-led NWC proceeded with the congress, which handed control of the party structure in Rivers State to Wike.

On August 24, the PDP Governors’ Forum voiced support for Fubara, urging the NWC to recognise him as the party leader in the state and transfer control of the party structure to him.

In response, Wike threatened to incite chaos in PDP state chapters if they backed Fubara.

The Governors’ Forum condemned Wike’s threats as irresponsible and reaffirmed its support for Fubara.

Due to the increasing tension and to prevent confrontation at the NWC meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Damagum postponed the meeting until next week.

On Wednesday, Damagum, the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, the Deputy National Chairman South, Taofeek Arapaja, Deputy National Secretary, Setoji Kosheodo, were at the party’s secretariat between 1:05 pm and 3:10 pm.

A senior NWC member, who was present with them, stated that they discussed issues with the Kaduna State chapter.

The source, who did not want his name mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said, “There is no need for an NWC meeting at this time. The meeting will be held next week. We only convened to discuss the Kaduna State chapter (issues). There was an issue in Zango Kataf, but it has been resolved.”

Another senior PDP NWC member, who similarly requested anonymity, however said Damagum postponed the meeting for fear that it may to confrontation.

The source added that other NWC members were unaware of any discussion regarding any issue on Kaduna, adding that those who were at the secretariat were Wike’s NWC loyalists who met to finalise their plans.

He stated, “They are only playing games with the party members and its future. Those present at the secretariat today are part of their team.

“They postponed the meeting because they wee afraid of the potential outcomes. If we had met today (Wednesday), we would have discussed the Rivers and other states’ congresses. The NWC needs to approve everything. Pressure from Wike and from governors to the entire NWC led them to delay the meeting to buy time.

“They were at the Secretariat to plan their next move. That is why some of us are not aware. With the governors having taken an open stance, they are trying to delay things to achieve their objectives. Thus, they deliberately postponed the meeting.”

When reached for comment, the PDP acting National Chairman clarified that no meeting was planned for Wednesday.

Damagum, in response said, “Ask the secretary if he has scheduled any NWC meeting for this week; it seems like you are the one suggesting the meeting.”

The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, also denied that the NWC meeting was postponed solely because of the Wike-governors conflict.

In response to the claim that the meeting was postponed out of fear of confrontation over Wike and the PDP governors, Abdullahi stated: “Not exactly. We simply decided to address the items for the meeting differently.

“The NWC couldn’t have been suspended owing to this singular Wike-governor’s imbroglio.”