Politics

PDP Crisis: Party Leadership, Wike In standoff — Source

Published

4 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

APC Primary: Edo Senator Kicks As Committee Releases Results

Published

28 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

Editor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Primary Election Committee for Edo State has announced collated results with an incumbent Senator Neda Imasuen representing Edo South Senatorial District crying foul play.

INFO DAILY reports that Senators Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North and Joe Ikpea of Edo Central were returned while Imasuen of South Senatorial District emerged second in the results collated at the Urokpota Hall, Benin City.

In the results announced by the Committee Chairman, Muhammed Ajana, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama scored 27,154 votes, Imasuen scored 13,580 while Osagie Ize-Iyamu polled 6,785 votes.

He said the collation arose from votes cast in the seven local government areas made up of 77 wards whose election was conducted by members of the committee.

He said: “There are seven local governments that make up the Edo South Senatorial District; we have heard from the Returning Officers from the seven local government areas.

“This is the reflection of what transpired from the ward level to the local government and the Edo South senatorial district collation centre. With this, we await further directives from the National Secretariat; we have done our best by collating the results which are our mandate, to collate the results and send them to the National Secretariat.”

However, on his part, the senator representing the district condemned the exercise, describing it as a sham allegedly designed to favour a preferred aspirant.

Imasuen spoke while reacting to events at his polling unit in Umagbae North Ward 5, Urhokuosa where he said he was denied the opportunity to vote following what he described as a chaotic and manipulated process.

The lawmaker accused leaders of the party of openly adopting a preferred candidate ahead of the exercise and intimidating members into supporting that aspirant.

“There’s nothing satisfactory about this sham of election they did today and it is very unfortunate because as a loyal party member, I expected something better than this,” he said.

Politics

APC Senatorial Primaries: National Organising Secretary Clears Oden Ewa For Cross River Central, Others

Published

6 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Editor

Ahead of the ongoing scheduled All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial Primaries holding across the country today, Oden Ewa and seven others have been cleared by the National Organising Secretary (NOS) of the party at the just concluded screening exercise, to contest the primaries.

This was made public by NOS after the screening exercise in the State.

Ewa, the immediate past Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, was cleared alongside the incumbent Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, who is planning for third term.

The contest in Central Senatorial District is said to be a hot chase between Ewa and the incumbent, however, Ewa is believed to have an edge as he is seen as a fresh start with new ideas for the district.

He is popular among the party leaders and commands huge following within the party followers and the Senatorial district for his various contributions to the development of the district over the years.

His aspiration also enjoys the support of the teeming youths in the area with many youth groups in the district lining behind him. He is said to fit into the aspirational needs of the youths and others within the district who are calling for new and fresh representation.

Others cleared by NOS for the primaries include; Asuquo Ekpenyoung (South); Adans Cecilia Omoniya, Senator Jarigbe Agom, Dr Johna Onyi Agba, and Mary Ogoba Ekpere Eta (North).

Politics

APC Members In Ikole LG Condemn Attacks On Members During Reps Primary

Published

24 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Editor

….Seek safer venues for remaining primaries

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Òkè-Àkò Ekiti, Irele-Ekiti and Ijowa-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State have strongly condemned the violence, intimidation and attacks that characterised the House of Representatives Primary Election held in Ward 11, Ipao-Ekiti.

The APC members lamented that the exercise, which ought to have reflected the democratic ideals of the party, was unfortunately marred by violent attacks carried out by political thugs against party faithful perceived to be supporting a different aspirant from the one backed by the attackers.

Among those attacked were Hon. Samuel Adetiba and Mr. Ore Bamidele, the latter, who was beaten into a coma and is presently in critical condition at a private hospital in the locality where he is receiving medical attention.

Beyond the physical attacks on members, cmpaign banners belonging to the aspirant opposed by the attackers were also vandalised and destroyed during the incident.

The APC members expressed disappointment that the incident was orchestrated by one of the chairmanship candidates for the Among Local Community Development Authority (LCDA), in the presence of the APC leader in the Ekamefa area, Hon. Samuel Abejide, who did nothing to stop the attacks of the party faithful.

In addition to the physical assaults, properties belonging to APC members in Ipao-Ekiti were reportedly damaged, while elderly men and women from Òkè-Àkò Ekiti, Irele-Ekiti and Ijowa-Ekiti were allegedly molested, threatened and forcefully removed from voting queues simply for supporting aspirants of their choices.

Olaiya Ajibulu, who spoke on behalf of the affected party members expressed deep concern over what they described as a growing atmosphere of fear and political intolerance capable of undermining unity within the party and threatening the safety of members participating in future exercises.

Consequently, Ajibulu said that the affected APC members from the three communities appealed passionately to the leadership of the party in Ekiti State, as well as His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, to urgently intervene in the matter.

They also requested that subsequent APC primary elections involving the three communities be moved away from Ipao-Ekiti to a neutral and safer venue where the lives and rights of party members could be adequately protected.

“Alternatively, we appeal that Òkè-Àkò Ekiti, Irele-Ekiti and Ijowa-Ekiti should be allowed to conduct their remaining primary elections at a separate venue where members can freely exercise their democratic rights without intimidation, harassment, or fear of violence.” Ajibulu reiterated.

The affected members also sympathised with all victims of the attacks and prayed for the speedy recovery of those currently receiving medical attention, particularly Mr. Ore Bamidele.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals of democracy, peaceful coexistence and party unity, while urging all stakeholders to ensure that future political exercises are conducted in an atmosphere of peace, fairness and mutual respect.