Power Play: Wike, Fubara, Mohammed Challenge NWC As PDP Crisis Escalates

The opposition party had scheduled its NEC meeting for February 29, but recent developments could undermine hopes for a unified and effective opposition.

Notably, former PDP presidential candidate Dele Momodu recently accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of fueling the party’s crisis due to his loss in the 2022 presidential primaries.

Key Issues on the NEC Agenda

The NEC meeting is expected to address several contentious issues, including:

1. The ongoing conflict involving Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
2. Disputes between Wike and the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.
3. The leadership struggle within the National Working Committee (NWC).
4. The unresolved battle for the National Secretary position between Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude Okoye.

Wike vs. Bala Mohammed

Tensions between Wike and Mohammed escalated after the PDP Governors Forum supported Governor Fubara. The conflict deepened when Wike criticized Mohammed for opposing President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills.

In response, Mohammed, through his media aide Mukhtar Gidado, labeled Wike a “transactional politician” and a “liability,” accusing him of putting personal ambition above collective party interests.

Wike fired back, describing Mohammed as a “fairweather politician” and accusing him of holding onto the PDP Governors Forum chairmanship out of “political greed.” He argued that, by convention, the role should be held by a Southern governor.

Olagunsoye Oyinlola-Led National Reconciliation Committee

The Oyinlola-led National Reconciliation Committee was tasked with mending internal divisions and uniting the party. However, its effectiveness has been questioned, particularly after PDP’s losses in the Edo and Ondo State governorship elections.

The committee’s last notable meeting with the NWC occurred in October 2024, and analysts believe it must urgently resolve the Rivers State crisis and the Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum’s leadership disputes to ensure the NEC meeting proceeds as planned.

Rivers State Crisis: Wike vs. Fubara

The ongoing power tussle between Wike and Governor Fubara over control of the Rivers State PDP structure has further fractured the party. This division has extended to the NWC, complicating efforts to hold the February NEC meeting.

A PDP insider expressed skepticism about the meeting taking place, stating, “The committee has fresh fires to extinguish. With Damagum and his supporters delaying progress, it remains uncertain if reason will prevail.”

As the PDP struggles with leadership battles at various levels, the question remains: Can the party resolve its internal conflicts in time to hold a productive NEC meeting?