The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has strengthened his position in the ongoing leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the National Working Committee’s endorsement of the Rivers State congresses.
Wike’s supporters within the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) not only secured approval for the Rivers State congresses but also managed to delay the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, initially scheduled for September 26, to October 24.
This meeting could have potentially overturned the recent decision.
The NWC, led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, made this decision during a meeting at the party’s national headquarters, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja on Thursday.
This meeting had been postponed for the past three weeks amid mounting tension between Wike and the PDP Governors Forum regarding the legitimacy of the Rivers State congresses.
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The conflict between Wike and the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, intensified on August 24 when PDP governors publicly supported Fubara and called for a review of the Rivers State congresses, endorsing Fubara as the PDP leader in the state.
This move angered Wike, who, on August 31, threatened to disrupt the governors’ states if they continued to interfere in Rivers State affairs.
In response, the PDP Governors’ Forum condemned Wike’s threats on September 3 as irresponsible.
An anonymous senior NWC member revealed that the Rivers and other state congresses were approved, and the NEC meeting has been rescheduled to October 24.
The NEC meeting, initially planned for August to address key issues, including the potential replacement of Damagum, was first postponed to September 26 due to members traveling for a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. It has now been moved again.
The source stated, “The NWC has succeeded in its objectives. Wike has once again outmaneuvered the PDP governors by securing approval for the Rivers and other state congresses.
The few NWC members who opposed this decision were outvoted. Only the NEC can overturn this decision to meet the governors’ demands.
“The Rivers State congresses, along with those from other states, have been approved by the NWC, although issues in some states, such as anomalies in Kogi, resulted in those congresses being postponed.
The NEC, which could challenge the NWC’s decisions, is now set for October 24, a date that may not be final. Currently, Wike has triumphed over the PDP Governors Forum led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.”