A potential showdown is brewing between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) prepares to meet on Wednesday.
This impending clash is set against the backdrop of ongoing political tensions in Rivers State, where governance has been significantly affected due to the conflict between Wike and the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, both of whom are members of the PDP.
The rift has caused a split within the Rivers State House of Assembly, with a faction led by Martin Amaewhule aligning with Wike, while another faction, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, remains loyal to Governor Fubara.
Despite mediation efforts by President Bola Tinubu and other prominent figures, the conflict has persisted, leading to multiple legal battles in courts in both Port Harcourt and Abuja.
The conflict escalated when the Amb. Umar Damagum-led NWC went ahead with the congress in Rivers State, despite a court injunction to the contrary, effectively handing control of the PDP’s state structure to Wike.
Former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, in an open letter to the party leadership, accused Wike of leveraging his close ties with President Tinubu to exert undue pressure on Governor Fubara and the PDP. While the PDP Governors Forum declared full support for Fubara.
In response, Wike, speaking at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, vowed to take decisive action against governors attempting to wrest control of the PDP structure in states under their leadership.
He warned, “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give it back to somebody. I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”
As the NWC meeting approaches, the tension within the party continues to build, raising concerns about the potential impact on the PDP’s unity and governance in Rivers State.
The Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Emmanuel Agbo, who spoke with Punch on the development, stated that a meeting to address Wike’s threat was imminent.
He said, “He addressed the governors specifically. The governors will meet and they will take a position. The Secretariat is to convey their (Governors) positions. Until that is done, I don’t have any take on it.”
When questioned about when the governors would convene, Agbo responded: “Once I get a confirmation, I will let the press know.”
Similarly, the NWC meeting is set to take place on Wednesday (tomorrow) at Wadata Plaza, the PDP national headquarters in Abuja.
A senior NWC member, who wished to remain anonymous, as he is not authorised to speak on the matter, indicated that the party leaders were expected to review and discuss the PDP recently-held ward and state congresses, and governors’ position on Rivers in the upcoming meeting.
“We anticipate that the PDP Governors will contact the NWC to convey their stance on Rivers State and their preferred approach.
“If they do, this will be addressed at the NWC meeting. The meeting will also discuss the ongoing litigation involving the defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the source disclosed.