PDP Crisis: Wike’s Men Move Against Tambuwal

PDP Crisis: Wike’s Men Move Against Tambuwal

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has been caught in the battle for the soul of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
It emerged on Thursday that Governor Wike’s supporters in the party were the ones behind the rumour that Governor Tambuwal has resigned his position as the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.

The report claimed that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has been appointed as the new Chairman after the PDP NEC meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Thursday. Makinde is a very close ally of Governor Wike.

However has debunked the viral report, saying he remains PDP Governors’ Forum Chair.

The denial was contained in a statement signed by the Director General of PDP Governors’ Forum CID Maduabum.

“This is to inform the general public and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, that the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF), Rt Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has not resigned as Chairman of the Forum contrary to some media reports.

“Members of the PDP GOVERNORS FORUM are working behind the scenes to resolve all contending issues concerning the Party. To this end a meeting of the Forum will soon be convened,” the statement read.

The relationship between the two Governors broke down after Tambuwal stepped down from his presidential ambition for Atiku during the keenly contested primary.

Governor Wike was highly disappointed with the Sokoto helmsman whom he once backed for the presidency, describing the action as a political backstabbing “after I backed him against the same Atiku in 2015.”

A source said “Governor Wike wants to reenact the crisis in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, to show how influential he is in the party.”

This development, those watching the crisis in the party said, will further polarise the PDP as it plans to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC next year.

The Party is already in deep crisis as contending groups bicker over the resignation of Iyorcha Ayu, the National Chairman of the party, analysts say, adding that any attempt to divide the Governors could destroy the party’s chances of winning the 2023 Presidential election.

“The party must come together now for the interest of all. This is the time to close ranks to prepare for next year’s election. The longer the crisis persists, the more room for the ruling party to consolidate itself as we prepare for the election that which PDP must win. Anything contrary will hurt the party,” a source close to Atiku said.

Meanwhile, the PDP NEC on Thursday passed a vote of confidence on the embattled Ayu.

A motion for the vote of confidence in the PDP’s National Working Committee, NWC was moved by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, at the BoT and NEC meeting which held in Abuja on Thursday.

The vote was supported by a NEC member from Kwara State and presided over by the acting chairman of the PDP BoT, Adolphus Wabara.
The implication of this, critical stakeholders in the party said, is that the party Chairman will not be stepping down any time soon.