The People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) has finally endorsed the Rivers State congresses, where the loyalists of the state’s former Governor and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike emerged as the leaders of the party in the state.
With this development, Governor Bala Mohammed-led PDP Governors’ Forum has lost its supremacy battle with Wike.
Recall that Wike earlier threatened violence in their states should they meddle in the affairs of Rivers State.
Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara renewed their battle recently over the PDP leadership in the state, in which PDP governors threw their weight behind the latter.
The endorsement of the Rivers State congresses, solidifies Wike’s position in the party’s leadership crisis.
Sources disclosed that the NWC, led by acting national chairman Umar Damagum, made this decision during a meeting at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, September 12.
According to The Punch, the endorsement of the Rivers state congresses and the postponement of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting from September 26 to October 24 have given Wike’s loyalists an upper hand in the crisis. The NEC meeting, which could have overturned the NWC’s decision, has been rescheduled, potentially allowing Wike’s faction to maintain control.