The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, control of the Rivers State chapter of the party.
Specifically, the party’s NWC endorsed the state congresses conducted by the Wike-led faction.
Wike’s loyalists within the PDP NWC not only secured the approval but also postponed the National Executive Committee meeting, originally set for September 26, to October 24.
The party’s NEC could have upturned the decision given the current political development in the party as it affects Rivers State.
The PDP NWC, led by acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, made this decision during a meeting at the party’s national headquarters, Wadata Plaza, on Thursday, in Abuja.
The NWC meeting had been delayed for the past three weeks amid rising tension within the party, especially between former Rivers State governor Wike and the PDP Governors Forum over the status of Rivers State party congresses.
It would be recalled that the political conflict between Wike and current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, escalated on August 24 when PDP governors publicly backed Fubara.
PDP governors called for a review of the Rivers State Congresses and affirmed Fubara’s role as the leader of the PDP in the state.
This support for Fubara enraged Wike, who on August 31 threatened to create chaos in the governors’ states if they did not refrain from interfering in Rivers State matters.
In response, on September 3, the PDP Governors’ Forum condemned Wike’s threat as irresponsible.
