Wike Crushes PDP Governors, Fubara In Limbo

By Akinwale Kasali

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday, inexplicably approved of the questionable and controversial Congress held in Rivers State.

The Congress was boycotted by the PDP faction loyal to the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. They boycotted because there is a  substantive Court Order that suspended the holding of any  Congress in Rivers State.

However, in defiance of the Court injunction, the faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, under an All Progressives Congress, APC, Government, held the Congress.

It was however expected that the NWC at its meeting held on Thursday, was going to cancel the Congress, and as enshrined in the Party’s Constitution, hand over the Party’s structure to the Governor. This, especially, as the PDP Governors’ Forum, had backed Governor Fubara, and asked the NWC to review the Rivers State Congress and a couple of others.

However, that did not happen. It did the least expected.

So, against all odds, FCT Minister, Nyesom has been able to solidify his position in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP even when he is, also, the defacto leader of the APC in Rivers State.

Wike’s loyalists within the PDP NWC not only secured the approval but also postponed the National Executive Committee meeting, originally set for September 26, to October 24, which could have overturned the decision.

The PDP NWC, led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, made this decision during a meeting at the party’s National headquarters, Wadata.

The NWC meeting had been delayed for the past three weeks amid rising tension within the party, especially between Wike, Fubara and the PDP Governors Forum over the status of Rivers State party congresses.

The political conflict between Wike and Fubara has for months escalated, with many seeing Wike’s action against the administration of Fubara as absolutely unnecessary.

The PDP Governors Forum on August 24 publicly backed Fubara. The Forum called for a review of the Rivers State Congresses and affirmed Fubara’s role as the leader of the PDP in the State.

This support for Fubara enraged Wike, who on August 31 threatened to create chaos in the  States which Governors support  Fubara if they did not refrain from interfering in Rivers State matters.

In response, on September 3, the PDP Governors’ Forum condemned Wike’s threat as irresponsible.

A senior NWC member, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorisation, revealed that the approval of the Rivers and other state congresses was granted, and the NEC meeting had been rescheduled to October 24.

The NEC meeting, originally set for August to address burning issues, including Damagum’s replacement, was first moved to September 26 because some members were travelling to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. It has now been rescheduled to October 24.

With the triumph of Wike over Fubara, the PDP Governors Forum and the loyalists of Fubara, it Is clear that Wike has been able to call the shots,  dictate what should be obtainable in the Rivers PDP, and the Party structure in the State.