The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, which relates to issues in Rivers State and the conflict between the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has factionalised the party’s National Working Committee, Saturday PUNCH can confirm.
Since taking over after Senator Iyorchia Ayu was removed by a court, the party’s factional acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, had faced mounting criticism within the party, leading to calls for his resignation.
The crisis escalated when Damagum and other NWC members, in support of Wike, secured approval for controversial PDP Congresses in Rivers State and postponed the National Executive Committee meeting from September 26 to October 24.
The lingering conflict between Wike and the current Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, also intensified on August 24 as the PDP governors publicly declared their supports for their Rivers counterpart and urged a review of the state congresses.
In response, Wike August 31 threatened to disrupt activities in the governors’ states if they continued to interfere in Rivers State matters, but the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by the Bauchi State governor labelled Wike’s threats as irresponsible on September 3.
Meanwhile, Fubara oversaw local government elections on October 5, resulting in a setback for Wike’s camp, as 22 of the 23 newly elected chairmen were from the Action Peoples Party.
But in a surprised move, the NWC in a statement by the party’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom on Friday announced the suspension of its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN).