The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has strengthened his position within the ongoing leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) officially endorsed the Rivers State congresses.
This development comes amid mounting tensions between Wike and the PDP Governors Forum, particularly with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike’s loyalists within the NWC not only secured the endorsement but also successfully postponed the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, originally scheduled for September 26, to October 24. This delay is significant, as the NEC meeting could have potentially reversed the NWC’s decision regarding the Rivers State congresses.
The NWC, led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, reached this decision during a meeting held at the PDP’s national headquarters in Abuja on Thursday. The meeting had been delayed for three weeks due to rising tensions, particularly between Wike and the PDP Governors Forum, over control of the party’s leadership in Rivers State.
The conflict between Wike and Governor Fubara intensified on August 24, when PDP governors publicly backed Fubara, calling for a review of the Rivers State congresses and reaffirming Fubara’s position as the leader of the PDP in the state.
Wike, in response, expressed outrage and threatened to cause chaos in the governors’ states if they continued interfering in Rivers State matters. This led the PDP Governors Forum to condemn Wike’s statements as irresponsible on September 3.
According to the Punch report, a senior member of the NWC, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the Rivers and other state congresses had been approved, with only a few states being stepped down due to identified issues.
For example, the approval for the Chairman and Deputy in Kogi State was withheld due to irregularities.
The source added, “Wike has again defeated the PDP governors as the NWC approved the Rivers and other states’ congresses. There was nothing a few NWC members who were against it could do other than allow them to have their way.”
The NEC meeting, initially slated for August to address key issues, including the replacement of acting chairman Damagum, was first moved to September 26 due to some members travelling for the Saudi Arabian pilgrimage.
With the latest postponement to October 24, there are doubts as to whether it will take place on that date.
As it stands, Wike’s influence within the party has continued to grow, dealing a blow to the Bala Mohammed-led PDP Governors Forum, which opposes him.
The postponement of the NEC meeting means that the NWC’s decisions, including the approval of the Rivers State congresses, remain in effect for now, unless overturned by the NEC when it eventually convenes.