The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has solidified his influence in the ongoing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership crisis, with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) endorsing the Rivers State congresses.
The NWC’s approval marks a victory for Wike, whose loyalists within the party also succeeded in postponing the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting—initially scheduled for September 26—to October 24, a move that could have reversed the decision.
The NWC, led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, made these decisions during a Thursday meeting at the party’s national headquarters, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja. The meeting had been delayed for three weeks due to rising tensions between Wike and the PDP Governors Forum, particularly over the status of the Rivers State congresses.
The conflict between Wike and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara intensified after PDP governors publicly backed Fubara on August 24, calling for a review of the state congresses and recognising him as the party’s leader in the state. Wike, angered by this move, threatened on August 31 to destabilise the governors’ states if they continued to interfere in Rivers State affairs. In response, the PDP Governors Forum condemned Wike’s comments on September 3, calling his threats irresponsible.
Despite the governors’ opposition, a senior NWC member, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the NWC had approved the Rivers State congresses along with those in other states, noting that the NEC meeting had been postponed to October 24. The source added that while some NWC members opposed the decision, they were ultimately unable to prevent it.
“The Rivers State congresses, along with those of other states, were approved by the NWC. However, a few states where anomalies were identified, such as Kogi, had their congresses stepped down,” the source said. “Only the NEC has the authority to overturn the NWC’s decision on Rivers and other states, but with the NEC meeting postponed, Wike has effectively outmanoeuvred the PDP Governors Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.”
The NEC meeting was originally slated for August to address key issues, including the potential replacement of Damagum as acting national chairman, but was moved to September 26 due to some members’ pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The new date of October 24 may also face delays, further consolidating Wike’s position in the party’s internal power struggle.
