The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagum, has postponed the party’s National Working Committee meeting until next week due to increasing tension between former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and the PDP Governors Forum, regarding the status of Rivers State party congresses.
Amid the lingering political crisis between Wike and the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, the PDP governors had taken sides with Fubara, insisting that the governor should be recognised as the leader of the PDP in Rivers State.
The declaration by the governors had infuriated Wike, who warned them to stay out of Rivers matter or he would ‘put fire’ in their states.
But reacting on Tuesday, the PDP Governors’ Forum slammed Wike, describing his threat as irresponsible.
They insisted that their position remained, reminding Wike that while he was Rivers governor, he enjoyed the same privilege as the party’s leader.
The PDP governors are demanding that the ward and local government congresses conducted in Rivers State, which gave the party’s structure to Wike, should be annulled and fresh ones conducted.
The PDP NWC meeting, which was expected to hold on Wednesday and would have provided an opportunity to further address the disagreements between Wike and the governors, did not, however, hold.
Despite a court injunction halting the PDP’s congresses in Rivers State, the Damagum-led NWC proceeded with the congress, which handed control of the party structure in Rivers State to Wike.
On August 24, the PDP Governors’ Forum voiced support for Fubara, urging the NWC to recognise him as the party leader in the state and transfer control of the party structure to him.
In response, Wike threatened to incite chaos in PDP state chapters if they backed Fubara.
The Governors’ Forum condemned Wike’s threats as irresponsible and reaffirmed its support for Fubara.
