PDP Crisis: Wike Storms BOT Emergency Meeting; Unsettles Party; As Atiku, APC Deny Hand In Crisis

…APC Denies Involvement

By Akinwale Kasali

With every organ in the  People’s Democratic Party, PDP, scramnling to arrest the ship of the party which is caught up in a strong storm, attendees to one of the meetings called to find a way out were unsettled when Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike stormed the venue ot the meeting.

The crisis in the party was escalated on Tuesday, August 3rd, when seven members of the National Executive Council, resigned from their offices, alleging incompetence on the part of the Chairman, Uche Secondus.

Their resignation was followed by that of Senator Joy Emordi, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, BOT, who dumped the party on Wednesday for the All Progressives Congress, APC

At a well attended meeting of the BOT on Thursday, many were at once surprised and unsettled when Wike made an appearance, unannounced.

It is not known if he was specially invited to the meeting, as Governors are not BOT Members. If he was, it is not unconnected with his alleged role in the crisis rocking the  party. He is accused  of leading the planned ouster of the Chairman from office.

On Wednesday, Secondus fought back, stopping just short of mentioning Wike’s name and role in the

Wike according to sources walked into the National Executive Committee (NEC) Hall where the meeting was being held when the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus was delivering his opening address.

Many eyes turned to behold the arrival of the Governor who promptly took his seat among the attendees.

The PDP Chairman and Wike have been at loggerheads, with speculations and allegations  that Wike mastermind plot to remove him from office.

In anther development,  Presidential Candidate at the 2019 polls,  Atiku Abubakar, denied any involvement in the plans to oust Secondus from office as the National Chairman of the Party. The two men met in Porthacourt, Rivers State to discuss party affairs. Shortly after their meeting the crisis boiled over. This forced many to assume that both men planned Secondus’ ouster at the meeting.

But Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, on Wednesday, described the allegation as a product of “beer parlour talk”, adding that he could not have participated in any move to unseat Secondus when he had been encouraging genuine reconciliation in the PDP.

He clarified that that his trip to Rivers had same motive with that of Delta, pointing out that consultation for genuine peace and repositioning of the main opposition party were the key objectives.

The spokesman stated: “It is a beer parlour talk, it is also a mischief. Why will a former Vice President be behind the plot to sack PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus? What will be his interest?

“Someone, who has commenced the process of having conversations with stakeholders of the party on reconciliation. A man, who has encouraged processes aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the party cannot be linked to that kind of plot.

“He made the trip to Port Harcourt, similar one to Delta. And he has more in the offing. Why will he promote peace and stability in the party and be behind moves to sack Secondus? It’s ridiculous for anyone to talk about this.”

Atiku said he understood the PDP Constitution and what the party said about tenure for party leadership, adding that he could not be working against something he understands and promotes.

The PDP has been battling with gale of defections with Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross River State and Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State all joining the APC.

The APC also distanced itself from the crisis befalling the leading opposition Party.

According to APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, “Our party is not responsible for the  crisis in the PDP”.

He also dispelled claims that they were wooing the seven national officers into its fold.