Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has solidified his influence in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) amid the party’s leadership crisis.
According to The PUNCH reports, the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) recently endorsed the controversial Rivers State congresses, further strengthening Wike’s position.
The NWC also postponed the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, initially scheduled for September 26, to October 24. This delay gives Wike’s faction more time to consolidate power.
The NWC meeting, led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, had been delayed for three weeks due to rising tensions within the party, particularly between Wike and the PDP Governors Forum.
The conflict intensified in late August when the PDP governors, led by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, backed a review of the Rivers State congresses and affirmed Fubara’s role as the party leader in the state.
Wike, angered by this move, issued a stern warning on August 31, threatening to interfere in the governors’ states if they continued meddling in Rivers State’s affairs.
Wike’s threat was met with condemnation from the PDP Governors’ Forum, which called his actions irresponsible.
Despite this, the NWC approved the Rivers State congresses, dealing a blow to the PDP Governors Forum.
A senior NWC member disclosed that while some members were against the decision, Wike’s faction ultimately prevailed.
The only body that can overturn the NWC’s decision is the NEC, but with the meeting now postponed, Wike has gained the upper hand in the ongoing power struggle within the PDP.
