Sixty PDP Reps Call For Resignation Amid Wike-Fubara Rift

Sixty PDP Reps Call For Resignation Amid Wike-Fubara Rift

A fresh twist in the ongoing political discord between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, emerged as sixty members of the House of Representatives, elected under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), demanded the resignation of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

The demand for Damagum’s resignation stems from his alleged silence amidst the escalating political crisis between Wike and Fubara in Rivers State. The discord between the loyalists of Wike and Fubara has been a longstanding issue, with previous attempts by Wike loyalists to impeach Fubara in October, which he vehemently resisted and survived.

Although an intervention last year by President Bola Tinubu momentarily eased tensions, recent developments indicate a resurgence of hostilities, hinting at a breakdown in the agreement reached during Tinubu’s mediation.

Last week, 27 pro-Wike lawmakers threatened to reignite the impeachment move against Fubara, prompting a strong reaction from the governor’s supporters. They questioned the legitimacy of the 27 lawmakers who had defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during last year’s crisis.

Led by Ikenga Ugochinyere, representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency in Imo State, the sixty lawmakers accused Damagum of aligning with Wike and collaborating with the ruling APC, a party responsible for Wike’s appointment as FCT minister.

The group alleged Damagum’s support for the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers’ impeachment plans against Fubara. They further criticized Damagum’s alleged plot to use the Federal High Court to legitimize the tenure extension of Rivers State Local Government Area chairpersons, believed to be close to Wike.

However, Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, a known associate of the FCT Minister, was notably absent from the briefing, fueling speculations about the widening scope of the conflict between Wike and Fubara.

The lawmakers demanded Damagum’s immediate resignation to pave the way for the emergence of a new PDP chairman from the North Central zone, as stipulated in the party’s constitution. They warned of reconsidering their membership if their demands were not met.

Additionally, the group accused Damagum of tampering with caretaker committee lists in Rivers State and ten other states, alleging a collaboration with APC interests to undermine the PDP.

Describing Damagum as unfit to lead the party, the lawmakers emphasized the need for his replacement from the North Central zone, urging PDP leaders from the region to intervene and restore the party’s integrity.

The demand for Damagum’s resignation signifies the deepening rift within the PDP, exacerbated by the ongoing power struggle between Wike and Fubara, with broader implications for the party’s cohesion and future direction.

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