Politics

PDP Crisis: Party Leadership, Wike In standoff — Source

Published

3 years ago

August 10, 2022

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may not abate soon as indications emerged yesterday that the leadership of the party appears to be dilly-dallying with the request made by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, a situation that has led to a standoff between opposing camps in the party.

This came as PDP supporters from Delta State, under the aegis of Delta State Mandate Group, yesterday, drummed support for the Senator Iyiochia Ayu-led PDP National Working Committee, NWC.

Multiple sources, who spoke with Vanguard in confidence, hinted that the dilly-dallying by the PDP leadership could be attributed to Wike’s recent outbursts.

Governor Wike had on Monday stated that he remained fully in charge of his state, warning that nobody can hold meetings against him in Abuja and be successful.

The governor also vowed that anybody who despised the political capability of the state would be visited with the same treatment.

Wike, however, chided perceived misguided Rivers politicians for twisting his assertions on Monday that the state is fully in his grips.

Party dilly-dallying with gov’s request

But in a chat with Vanguard, multiple sources said the decision by PDP leaders not to meet the demands of the governor might be responsible for his (Wike’s) invitation of All Progressives Congress, APC, governors and leaders into Rivers State.

Another source familiar with the workings of the party, warned that failure by the PDP leaders to meet Wike’s demands, might affect the fortunes of the party in 2023.

The source said: “The party is dilly-dallying over Wike’s request. He has given them his conditions to support Atiku. Before the reconciliation, some leaders of the party said Wike should be ignored and since he is sensing that the PDP wants to ignore him, he is also showing them that he is important by allowing the All Progressives Congress, APC, to make inroads into his territory.

“The party is now in a panic mode and expressing worry that if they ignore Wike, it will be to their detriment and may affect the fortunes of the party. That is why they want to make peace with him.

“Wike is also angry that the Atiku camp has shut him and his group out of the scheme of things because they have shared some of the positions among themselves.

“One of the conditions he gave is that Ayu must resign and that Atiku should prevail on him (Ayu) to step down but when they approached Ayu, he refused to resign and asked the Atiku camp to protect him.

“Ayu is insisting that if he must resign, other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, must resign and a restructuring of the party positions must take place.

“That calls for a new convention entirely but Ayu said there is no time for that and there is no way they can call for a new convention. He has vowed not to resign until after the election.

“The problem now is the party cannot deliver that message to Wike now because the meeting that was to be held to deliberate on Wike’s conditions was cancelled.

NWC members backing Ayu for survival

“Most of the NWC members decided to back the national chairman because it will also affect them and if they don’t meet his condition, Wike will not work with them.

“If Wike does not work with them, he will remain in PDP but work against the party and this will be too dangerous for the party.

“That is the true state of things now and there is crisis within the party. Unfortunately, Atiku’s camp will not remove Ayu because of their interest.”

Delta PDP backs Ayu, demand tough stance for anti-party activities

Meanwhile, PDP supporters, who stormed the party’s national secretariat in their numbers, yesterday, while expressing support for Ayu, also demanded punitive measures against another group which earlier demanded for Ayu’s ouster.

Spokesman of the group, Andaye Dagidi, said the mandate, in conjunction with over 15 other pro-PDP groups in Delta State, dissociated themselves from the activities of a group of persons claiming to be members of Concerned Deltans for Good Governance who were behind calls for Ayu’s sack.

A group of concerned Deltans had demanded Ayu’s sack over the decision of the NWC to deny David Edevie recognition as the party’s governorship candidate for Delta State.

Dagidi said: “Rising from a well-attended PDP stakeholders and support groups’ meeting in Delta State, the Mandate Group, MG, in conjunction with over 15 PDP support groups in the state at Ughelli on the 4th of August, 2022, critically appraised the case and effects of the ill-motivated and ill-conceived kangaroo shadow dissident group who wrongfully demanded the removal of the Sen Iyiochia Ayo-led National Working Committee of the PDP if they fail to comply with a judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered in July 2022 by forwarding the name of David Edevbie to INEC.

“We, hereby, declare a vote of confidence on the national chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyiochia Ayu, and the National Working Committee, NWC, for, among other reasons, providing sound, impartial leadership to the party by conducting a peaceful, hitch-free PDP primaries at all levels across the country, especially that of Delta State gubernatorial primaries at Stephen Keshi Stadium.”

While declaring unflinching support for Ayu, NWC and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, the group called for disciplinary action against those involved in anti-party activities.

We’ll respond accordingly — PDP spokesman

In its response, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Debo Ologunagba, who stood in for the national chairman, while addressing the protesters, said: “I have listened to you and I can see that Delta is united for PDP and that is very important for us, because we understand that the rescue mission led by our chairman and that this is coming from the heart of PDP, Delta State.

“Since 1999, Delta State has been solidly PDP and we believe that from this presentation that Delta State is solidly PDP.

“To that extent, we have taken note of what you have said, your concerns and consistent with the position of this NWC, we shall look at it and respond accordingly.

“I must thank you for the confidence you have expressed, the support for Dr Iyorchia Ayu-led NWC, consistent with his mission to continue to be fair to all members of the party and all the decisions have been in accordance with the constitution.

“We are a law-abiding party. We respect court order and we act on them and we want to reiterate that this party will remain so, running according to its constitution.

“However, the issue should be what do Nigerian people need? We want to be able to reject the APC, the sadness they have brought to this country.

“The only way we can do that is to be united and you have demonstrated that, that we are united, from the heart of the PDP which is Delta State. We urge you to continue to be united so that next year, we can celebrate the victory of PDP.”

Politicians twisted ‘I’m fully in charge of Rivers votes’ declaration — Wike

Meanwhile, Governor Wike, yesterday, accused perceived misguided Rivers politicians of twisting his assertion, on Monday, that the state is fully in his grips.

He, however, boasted that his widely acknowledged outstanding stewardship in office is a reflection of his personal capacity and passion to deliver enduring development to Rivers State people and nothing to do with the PDP.

Wike, who said this during the commissioning of the dualised Ogbunuabali-Eastern By-Pass Road project in Port Harcourt, said: “Take me away today from PDP to another party, I will still perform. So, it is not because I’m in PDP that I’m performing.

“Leadership is not about party; leadership is about individual. Party is only a vehicle to actualise your ambition, to be able to tell your people I have this capacity, I have this quality to render services to you.

“It is because I have that passion for my people, have the commitment to serve my people. Take me to YPP, allow me become whatever I will become there, I will perform. Take me to any party, I will perform. So, it is not party that makes you to perform.”

Chiding perceived misguided Rivers politicians for twisting his assertion, the governor said: “Because some people went to school late, they don’t understand when somebody says I am in charge of this state.

“I never said I am in charge of votes in this state, but I know I can talk to my people and my people will listen to me. Some people say I have only one vote, I agree. I can’t vote two times. I will only vote once but because of the services I have rendered to the people of this state, the state will listen to me.”

VANGUARD

Politics

PDP Reacts To Fubara’s Defection To APC

Published

2 days ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

The Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi FubaraGovernor, Siminalayi Fubara, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a “self-inflicted injury” and a culmination of choices the governor “willingly embraced.”

Fubara on Tuesday defected from the PDP to the ruling APC.

He announced his decision during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Fubara joins several of his colleagues who have also switched to the APC this year.

Recently, 17 members of the House of Assembly, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike and led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, announced their defection from the PDP to the APC, thereby altering the balance of power in the legislature.

In a statement issued Tuesday night by National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP said Fubara’s exit merely affirmed the legal maxim volenti non fit injuria—”to one who is willing, no harm is done.”

According to the PDP, the governor’s political troubles and eventual departure were products of his own decisions.

“Everyone who has followed developments that culminated in this uneventful defection will recall that the Governor willingly travelled the path that took him to this destination,” the statement read.

“Having done so voluntarily, he cannot turn around and accuse our party or any person or group of failing to protect him.”

The party insisted that at every stage of the crisis that engulfed Rivers politics over the past year, civil society groups, democratic actors and Nigerians across political divides stood in Fubara’s defence until he “capitulated.”

Politics

JUST IN: Fubara Dumps PDP For APC

Published

3 days ago

December 9, 2025

Editor

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, dumping the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Fubara announced this at a stakeholders meeting at the government house in Port Harcourt.

“We can’t support President (Tinubu) if we don’t fully identify with him, not just backyard support.

“Our decision this evening is that we are moving to the APC,” Fubara said as he announced his defection from the PDP to the APC.

The development comes amid political tension in the oil rich Niger Delta state.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu on Monday
held confidential discussions the with the Governor.

The engagement, held at the State House in Abuja, came against the backdrop of escalating political friction in Rivers State and ongoing uncertainties regarding Fubara’s standing within the PDP.

Politics

Tinubu, Six APC Governors Hold Closed-door Meeting At Aso Villa

Published

3 days ago

December 8, 2025

Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday met with six governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a closed-door session at the State House, Abuja.

The purpose of the meeting was not immediately disclosed, and details of its agenda remained unclear at press time.

In attendance were governors Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Usman Ododo (Kogi,) Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto) and Dr. Nasir Idris (Kebbi), who arrived at the Presidential Villa separately.

The meeting, held in the President’s office, lasted almost two hours.

Although no Presidency official offered insight into the agenda, the consultations come amid rising security concerns across the country and ongoing political engagements within the ruling party.

The governors declined to speak to journalists after the meeting.

President Tinubu has recently intensified his focus on national security by convening a series of high-level meetings involving key security stakeholders, including the service chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as intelligence coordinators and senior officials from various security agencies.

This increased engagement comes in response to a worrying upsurge in banditry, kidnappings, and violent crimes that have spread across multiple regions, causing widespread public concern and escalating pressure on the federal government for urgent and effective intervention.

These strategic meetings, frequently conducted in secrecy to ensure confidentiality and candid discussion, have aimed to undertake a comprehensive review of ongoing security operations nationwide.

Discussions have prioritised enhancing coordination and communication among military, police, and intelligence units to foster a more unified and cohesive response to security challenges.

In addition, the sessions have explored innovative and tactical measures that leverage intelligence gathering, rapid deployment, and community engagement to dismantle criminal networks and restore order.

Throughout these consultations, President Tinubu has underscored that safeguarding the lives and property of Nigerians is paramount.

He has called on the security apparatus to move beyond reactive measures and adopt more preventive, intelligence-driven strategies that anticipate threats before they escalate.

The administration’s renewed approach signals a commitment to reinforcing national security architecture and improving the operational effectiveness of all agencies involved in the fight against crime and insurgency across Nigeria.

In other news, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has expressed optimism that the security challenges – terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crime – Nigeria has been facing for almost three decades now will be overcome.

The NSA described those behind the “painful and unnecessary” challenges as “evil” and vowed they would be defeated.
Ribadu made remarks during the opening of a one-day dialogue organised by the National Peace Committee, in partnership with the delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and the U.S., on “a whole-of-Society Approach to the Prevention of Violence and Conflict in Northern Nigeria,” on Thursday in Abuja.

“This (security challenges) also shall pass. We are going through tough times. This will also go.

“But it’s very, very painful, what we are going through. It’s unnecessary.
They are very unfair to us, those who are responsible for this. They are evil.

“But they will be defeated. It’s a matter of time, and peace will be restored. That one we can assure you. Because there are people who are working, not necessarily making noise.

“There are people who are making sacrifices. Every single day, we go to bury our own deaths. Painful as it is. But most people don’t talk. Sacrifice is ongoing,” the NSA said.