Edo Guber Race: PDP Denies Attack On Gov Wike

• Says external forces, enemies at work
• Rivers Gov rough tackles Party’s NWC

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has distanced itself from a media publication purportedly sponsored by members of its National Working Committee (NWC) to castigate and malign the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike over the Party’s governorship primaries in Edo State holding on Thursday, June 25, 2020 in Benin.

Describing such “publications as handwork of external forces and enemies of the PDP who are bent on sowing seeds of discord within the party”, the country’s main opposition party said it has the greatest respect for Governor Wike and indeed all its governors nationwide.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to state that no member of its National Working Committee (NWC) sponsored any media publication to castigate and malign the person of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike”, the party said in Abuja.

This is as the Party also dismissed speculations that processes for its Edo State governorship primaries have not only been compromised, but also fraught with irregularities and foul play.

“The NWC also wishes to place on record that none of its members has acted like a “tax collector” in whatever meaning the term represents, either in the process leading to the Edo primary election, or any other state”, the PDP said in a statement.

Signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the statement said; “Our party holds Governor Wike and indeed all our PDP governors, who, of course, have been the pillars of our great party, with utmost respect and had always consulted them on all party affairs.

“The PDP appreciates the efforts and sacrifices of our governors and will not allow enemies of our party, who are out to cause disunity in our fold by sponsoring baseless publications against our leaders, to have their way.”

According to him, “This time demands the unity of all our leaders in order to keep our political rivals, who are facing extinction, from importing their crises into our party.”

He further boasted that; “The PDP remains one indivisible family and our members are at alert and will continue to resist every attempt by external forces to divide our ranks at this critical time.”

• Wike Taunts PDP NWC

The PDP statement comes on the heels of Governor Wike’s anger over what he claimed are attempts by some NWC members to tarnish his image over the current crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the Party.

Firing a salvo at his party’s national leadership, the Rivers Chief Executive said: “They (NWC) are tax collectors. Let them challenge me and I will come out with facts. Nobody will rubbish me by raising false accusations against me. I will fight back.”

Governor Wike, who also announced his decision to withdraw from further participation in the Edo State reconciliation process, accused the NWC of double standards.

“I am brought up not to accept injustice, and that is why I keep speaking out on national issues. Nobody in PDP can intimidate Rivers State. Nobody can threaten me because I said things must be done constitutionally.

“I will always continue to satisfy my conscience. From now on, I want to concentrate on the development of Rivers State”, he said.