Congresses: PDP NWC Hands Over Rivers To Wike, Shuns Govs Forum

The political impasse between the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, which escalated on August 24 with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum public backing for Fubara, have again swung in favour of the former Rivers governor.

The Minister on Thursday solidified his position in the PDP leadership crisis with the National Working Committee (NWC) endorsing the controversial Rivers State congresses.

According to reports from the NWC meeting held in Abuja, Wike’s loyalists within the PDP NWC not only secured the approval for the Congresses but also successfully engineered the postponement of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, earlier scheduled for September 26 to October 24, 2024.

With this development, only the rescheduled NEC can overturn the decision and some insiders hinted that the NWC’s decision to shift the date to October is part of the Wike’s group action plan to frustrate the PDP governors and further consolidate their hold on Rivers State against Governor Fubara.

Led by the embattled acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, the Party’s NWC rose from its meeting at the National Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja on Thursday, endorsing the congresses held in Rivers and other states to the chagrin of those supporting the position canvassed by the Party’s Governors Forum.

The PDP governors had demanded a review of the Rivers State Congresses while affirming their colleague, Governor Fubara as the leader of the PDP in the oil-rich state. As expected, this publicly declared support for Fubara did not go down well with the FCT Minister who threatened to create chaos in the governors’ states if they did not refrain from what he described as ‘meddlesomeness’ in the Rivers State matters.

A source, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, mentioned that the Wike group easily had “their way within the NWC because most members are pliant and ready to compromise for their selfish and pecuniary interest.

“It shouldn’t be surprising that they have achieved their aim by endorsing the Rivers and other states’ congresses. A few NWC members who were against it were unable to do anything except allow the approval. The way things are now, only the NEC can overturn that decision to meet the governors’ demands. But I can assure you that the NEC may not even be allowed to take place on the said October date.

“Despite the obvious anomalies and reservations expressed by the Governors, the NWC still went ahead to approve the Rivers State Congresses and those of other states, while those of a few states with issues were stepped down. For instance, in Kogi, the Chairman and Deputy were not approved due to anomalies.

“To further carry out the self-serving interest of their paymaster, Wike, the NEC meeting, initially fixed for September 26, was moved to October 24. However, going by the happenings within the Party, it is quite doubtful the meeting would be held on that date.

“For now, the Governor Bala Mohammed-led PDP Governors Forum has an uphill task to re-strategize to ensure the NEC meeting holds as planned if they hope to make any meaningful gains within the Party’s structures that have been seriously compromised by the NWC currently populated by the FCT Minister’s cohorts and men Friday”, a top official of the party told Forefront News after the NWC meeting.

Recalled that the NEC meeting, which has now suffered two postponements, was initially slated for August 2024 to tackle pressing problems within the country’s main opposition party, including Damagum’s replacement.

However, given the internal wranglings within the Party, the NEC was first moved to September 26 with the excuse that some members were heading to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage.

So for now, all eyes are on the rescheduled October 24 date, even as political pundits eagerly await the next line of action by the PDP Governors Forum.