The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has postponed the party’s highly anticipated National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, initially scheduled for this week, until next week due to growing tensions between former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP Governors Forum.
The friction primarily revolves around the leadership of the party’s structure in Rivers State following the state congresses.
The dispute between Wike and the incumbent Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has led to a deepening political crisis within the PDP.
The PDP Governors Forum has thrown its support behind Fubara, insisting that as the sitting governor, he should be recognized as the party’s leader in Rivers state.
The move, however, infuriated Wike, who issued a stern warning to the governors to stay out of Rivers State’s affairs, threatening to “put fire” in their respective states if they continued their interference.
Wike’s threat did not go unanswered. On Tuesday, the PDP Governors Forum issued a sharp rebuke, describing the former governor’s statement as “irresponsible.”
The governors reminded Wike that during his tenure as Rivers State governor, he enjoyed the same privilege of being recognized as the state party leader, and the same courtesy should now be extended to Fubara.
At the heart of the disagreement is the status of the recently conducted ward and local government congresses in Rivers State, which resulted in control of the party structure being handed to Wike.
The governors have called for the annulment of the congresses, insisting that fresh ones be conducted, with Fubara taking charge of the process.
Despite a court injunction halting the PDP’s congresses in the state, the Damagum-led NWC proceeded with the congresses, further solidifying Wike’s grip on the party’s structure.
In light of the escalating tensions, the NWC meeting, which was expected to be an opportunity for party leaders to address the growing rift between Wike and the governors, did not take place.
Sources at the PDP headquarters in Abuja revealed that Damagum postponed the meeting to avoid a potential confrontation.
One senior NWC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Punch: “There is no need for an NWC meeting at this time. The meeting will be held next week.”
Another NWC insider revealed that the postponement was a calculated move by Wike’s allies within the NWC.
“They are only playing games with the party members and its future. Those present at the secretariat today are part of their team.
“They postponed the meeting because they were afraid of the potential outcomes. Pressure from Wike and the governors on the NWC forced them to delay the meeting to buy time,” he said.