A showdown is brewing between the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as the party’s National Working Committee meets on Wednesday.
The meeting aims to resolve the lingering political conflict between Wike and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, both PDP members.
The feud has split the state House of Assembly and sparked multiple legal battles in Port Harcourt and Abuja courts, according to Politics Nigeria.
PDP governors have rallied behind Fubara, urging the NWC to recognize him as the party’s leader in Rivers State. Wike has retaliated with threats to destabilize PDP-controlled states supporting Fubara.
The NWC meeting will address the party’s recent ward and state congresses, the governors’ stance on Rivers State, and the ongoing litigation involving defected lawmakers.
A senior NWC member confirmed that the party leaders will tackle the issues head-on.
The conflict has exposed divisions within the NWC, with some members backing Wike’s actions despite a court injunction, while others insist on following proper procedures to support Fubara.
The party’s National Executive Committee may consider a vote of no confidence in the acting national chairman over the handling of the crisis.
A member of the National Executive Committee, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated that the letter provides sufficient grounds for the other NWC members to issue a vote of no confidence in the acting national chairman.
“The structure of the party is anchored on the state governor. Therefore, the NWC should apply what happened in other states to Rivers.
“In other states where the PDP has a governor, the structure of the party revolves around the governor. So whatever has been done in other states should be reciprocated in Rivers. After all, all states in Nigeria are equal, and they must consider the important role Rivers State plays in Nigeria. We cannot afford to lose control of the state,” he said.
