PDP crisis worsens as Wike-Fubara rift tears apart NWC

The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened, with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) split over the escalating feud between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The discord, which stems from a struggle for control of the party, has persisted for months, causing divisions at the highest levels of the opposition party.

During a press conference at the PDP national headquarters in Abuja on Friday, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, refuted a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba. Abdullahi declared that Ologunagba was not authorized to speak on the Rivers State crisis on behalf of the PDP.

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Abdullahi said he was instructed by the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagun, to discredit Ologunagba’s statement, which affirmed the legitimacy of the Ewo-led executive in Rivers State. According to Abdullahi, “For the avoidance of doubt, not even the said judgement has been served on the party. The NWC has neither received nor sat to take any decision on the said judgement.”

He further accused Ologunagba of spreading “calculated falsehood aimed at achieving a predetermined objective,” urging party members and the public to disregard the statement.

However, Ologunagba had earlier issued a statement recognizing the Ewo-led executive and calling on them to cooperate with Governor Fubara. This move appears to have intensified tensions within the party.

Regarding the status of the national secretaryship, Abdullahi affirmed that Senator Samuel Anyanwu remains the substantive national secretary until the Supreme Court resolves the pending appeal. “That is the position of the law. Where there is an appeal, it behooves the appellant to wait until the determination of the appeal,” he stated.

When questioned about his authority to address journalists, Abdullahi explained, “I was also elected in the same convention. By virtue of our duties, I enjoy the same powers to speak for this party.” He accused Ologunagba of acting unilaterally and allowing personal sentiments to influence his official duties.

“The NWC has not sat since September last year,” Abdullahi added. “So I wonder where he will now say the NWC sat and adopted and accepted the verdict recognizing the Ewor-led state EXCO in Rivers State.”