The leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a decisive turn in favor of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) officially approved congresses held in Rivers State.
This development signals a significant victory for Wike and his loyalists within the party, further consolidating his influence.
An insider within the party revealed that the NWC’s decision marked a defeat for the PDP Governors Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
The insider said, “They have achieved their aim. Wike has again defeated the PDP governors as the NWC approved the Rivers and other states’ congresses. There was nothing a few NWC members who were against it could do other than allow them to have their way.”
The source added that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party has the power to overturn the decision. However, the NEC meeting, originally scheduled for September 26, has now been postponed to October 24.
There is also skepticism about whether that meeting will take place on the rescheduled date, leaving Wike’s victory intact for now.
“Only the NEC can overturn the NWC’s decision on Rivers and other states. However, the NEC meeting… may not hold on that date,” the insider added.
The PDP NWC also resolved issues related to congresses in other states, but Kogi State’s congresses were stepped down due to irregularities, notably the Chairman and Deputy positions.
The postponement of the NEC meeting and the NWC’s approval of the Rivers State congress have left the party’s governors grappling with Wike’s growing dominance within the PDP.
